Tra l'altro is an adverbial phrase (in this case, a preposition plus an indefinite pronoun) that has a few different meanings. It's also an intercalare (a filler word), although not one that can stand alone.

Tra l'altro is frequently translated as "among other things," because tra means "between" or "among" (as well as other prepositions) and altro means "other." It can certainly be used that way, but let's note that in our expression, l'altro is singular, not plural (which would be altri or altre.) With its article, we can identify altro as a noun in this case, or more properly, an indefinite pronoun (taking on the role of a noun).

One can also say, tra le altre cose. This more literally corresponds to "among other things" or "among the other things." 

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Translating tra l'altro can be challenging, but in the end, what's important is to be able to understand it and use it in Italian conversation, reading, and writing. With its multiple meanings, it's a handy little expression to be familiar with.

One purpose of tra l'altro is to shift the topic of conversation to another, related, or additional piece of information, sometimes in mid-sentence. It can mean, "oh, by the way," "in addition (to which)," "(and) incidentally," "furthermore," "moreover," "besides," "besides which," "speaking of which," "not only that," "to top it off," "come to think of it," and more. And sometimes it's just to add a "by the way."

So if you're talking and you want to change the subject slightly, to go off on a tangent, or just add some extra information that might be useful, important, or interesting, tra l'altro is a good bet. 

Here, Diana is rattling off some information about a rich guy, and then adds some extra information (with tra l'altro) she knows will spark Imma's curiosity. 

Poi dopo diventò infatti un grande imprenditore, uno dei più ricchi e importanti della regione. E, tra l'altro, due anni fa ha ristrutturato proprio la casa ai Sassi di Lombardi. -Ah.

Then later, he actually became a big entrepreneur, one of the richest and most important in the region. And, incidentally, two years ago he renovated Lombardi's house in the "Sassi." -Ah.

Captions 23-25, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP6 Dalla parte degli ultimi - Part 24

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Here, Camilla's husband had bought a work of art that is likely evidence of a crime. She tells him that if he doesn't give it to the police, he's committing a crime. He responds. 

Ah, io commetto un reato? Guarda che l'ho comprata regolarmente, facendo anche un ottimo affare, tra l'altro.

Ah, I'm committing a crime? Look, I bought it legally, getting a great bargain, by the way.

Captions 11-12, Provaci ancora prof! S1E4 - La mia compagna di banco - Part 16

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Camilla can't accept a suggestion from one of her students, because it would be cowardly. She says:

Sarebbe anche una vigliaccata tra l'altro.

It would also be chickenhearted, among other things.

Caption 28, Provaci ancora prof! S1E4 - La mia compagna di banco - Part 2

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Here, the speaker adds a little extra information. 

Comunque, il mio amico la trova bellissima, tra l'altro è una persona molto spiritosa e soprattutto economicamente sta messo benissimo.

Anyway, my friend thinks you are really beautiful, plus which he's a funny person and above all, he's riding high financially.

Captions 82-84, Questione di Karma Rai Cinema - Part 9

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Here, Ada, who runs the place Manara is staying at, interrupts her own discourse to say he would have liked her husband. She could also have said, tra parentesi (in parentheses) in place of tra l'altro.  Or she could have said e a proposito (and speaking of which or whom).

Sai che cosa diceva mio marito? Tra l'altro era un bel tipo, ti sarebbe piaciuto.

You know what my husband used to say? And, by the way, he was a cool guy, you would have liked him.

Captions 1-2, Il Commissario Manara S1EP11 - Beato tra le donne - Part 9

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If you do a search of tra l'altro on the videos page, you'll find many examples. You may come up with better translations than the ones already present (you can provide your suggestions in the comments section of the videos page). 

At this point, you might be wondering if we can also say fra l'altro, since tra and fra mean the same thing. The answer is yes, although you'll likely find more examples with tra. 

È stato un suo collega... che io, fra l'altro, nemmeno conoscevo.

It was a colleague of hers... whom, by the way, I didn't even know.

Captions 29-30, La Ladra EP. 9 - L'amico sconosciuto - Part 2

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See this lesson about tra and fra. 

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Here are some good-to-know Italian adjectives that express something negative: for positive adjectives (numbers 1-10) see this lesson.

11) brutto (ugly, bad)

Brutto is the opposite of bello, and works the same way. We use brutto to talk about a movie we didn’t like, or something that is physically unpleasant to look at. Just like bello, brutto is more than ugly. It’s often used to mean "bad," for instance: un brutto incidente (a bad accident). 

Che brutto incidente!
What a terrible accident!

12) cattivo (bad, mean, nasty, evil)

This is another kind of “bad,” but often has more to do with non-physical things. Someone can be una cattiva persona (a nasty person).

13) pessimo (really bad, awful)

This is a wonderful adjective to have in your repertoire when you really need to call something “awful.”

Quel risotto era pessimo. (That risotto was really awful.)

14) scorretto (unfair, unjust, rude)

This is one of those wonderful adjectives that, by merely adding the “s” prefix, becomes the opposite of the original word, in this case, corretto.

Va be', ma non ti sembra scorretto nei confronti del mio Cicci? -No.

OK, but don't you think it's unfair to my Cicci? -No.

Caption 32, La Ladra EP. 8 - Il momento giusto - Part 9

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15) terrible  (terrible, awful, horrendous)

Here’s a partially true friend. We add it because it will be an easy word to call on if you need a negative adjective. It is not the first choice for Italians, though, and usually describes something as extraordinarily intense.

Qui, in seguito a una terribile frana, non abita più nessuno.

Here, following a big landslide, no one lives here anymore.

Caption 48, Basilicata Turistica Non me ne voglio andare - Part 2

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16) terrificante (dreadful, horrifying, terrifying, scary)

False friend alert. Terrificante does not mean “terrific.” It is a negative adjective, often used to mean “terrible,” but also “terrifying,” — inspiring fear.

Cioè, viviamo in un mondo che è brutale, terrificante... -Aspro, sì.

That is, we live in a world that's brutal, terrifying... -Bitter, yes.

Caption 6, Fellini Racconta Un Autoritratto Ritrovato - Part 8

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17) orrendo (horrible, hideous, horrendous, dreadful, awful, terrible)

This is a strong, extreme (negative) adjective, but it’s there when you need it, as a true “friend.” Eyebrows up, eyes wide open in horror.

18) noioso (boring, annoying, tedious, irritating)

This is a great adjective because, as well as describing a boring movie, it can also describe something or someone that’s annoying you or being a nuisance:

Quel film era molto noioso. Mi sono addirittura addormentato (That film was boring. I even fell asleep).
Non essere noioso (Don’t be so irritating, don’t annoy me).

Eh, povero Dixi, il singhiozzo è noioso

Oh, poor Dixi, the hiccups are bothersome

Caption 15, Dixiland Il singhiozzo

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19) negato (hopeless, useless, incapable, decidedly ungifted)

This is a useful adjective for admitting someone does something badly because they have no talent, no gift, not because they aren’t trying.

Negato describes a person (or possibly an animal), not an action or thing. Negato comes from the verb negare (to deny, to negate) but here, we are talking about the talent of a person.

Sono negato per la cucina. (I’m no good at cooking. I’m a disaster at cooking.)

Il maestro dice che non ha mai visto nessuno più negato di me.

The teacher says he has never seen anyone less gifted than me.

Caption 41, Questione di Karma Rai Cinema - Part 9

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20) tirchio (stingy, miserly)
 

This describes a person who holds onto his or her money or possessions. However, in English, we might sooner use a noun such as “tightwad.”
 

Quanto sei tirchio (what a tightwad you are).

We hope these words will help you describe events, people, food, and more. 

Either you've got it or you don't. In English you have talent or you don't have it. But in Italian, there is a special word for each end of the scale. Dotato or negato.

Il maestro dice che non ha mai visto nessuno più negato di me.

The teacher says he has never seen anyone less gifted than me.

Caption 41, Questione di Karma - Rai Cinema - Part 9

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So the speaker had to use the Italian comparative adverb più (more) before the adjective negato (not at all gifted). Whew! Talk about something not translating smoothly into English!

Negato is really a great word, though. It offers a great excuse when you want to get out of doing something you don't like to do. 

Sono negato! Fallo tu.
I'm no good at this! You do it.

That isn't to say that we can't also talk about having or not having talent, as, for example, in a recent segment of Adriano Olivetti's story:

Adriano, tu hai così tanti talenti.

Adriano, you have so many talents.

Caption 22, Adriano Olivetti - La forza di un sogno Ep. 1 - Part 7

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Another way we can translate negato is "hopeless," because negato implies that one is never going to get better at something. He or she is lacking in the wherewithal to improve. Instead of a higher being bestowing a gift (the gift of talent) on someone, it has been denied him or her.

Ma, dottore non mi dice niente? -Le dico che Lei è negato.

But Doctor don't you have anything to say? -I'll tell you that you're hopeless.

Captions 43-44, Psicovip Il ballo - Ep 25

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And in fact, the verb negare means "to deny."

Senta, Lei è un bel tipo, io non lo posso negare,

Listen, you're a cute type, I can't deny it,

Caption 6, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP1 - Un delitto perfetto - Part 6

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