Many of us learned that the Italian word for "again" is ancora. That is correct. But ancora has other meanings, as well, so it's handy to have an alternative way to say "again." We have added "anew" as a translation below, to provide a cognate, even though we rarely use it in English. 

di nuovo (again, anew)

Sono di nuovo incinta.

I'm pregnant again.

Caption 28, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 16

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nuovamente (again)

Mi dispiace, ma dobbiamo nuovamente interrogare la Sua collega.

I'm sorry, but we have to question your colleague again.

Caption 10, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 13

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un'altra volta

Yet another way to say again is un'altra volta (another time).

Ma secondo te, mi vuole interrogare un'altra volta? -Figurati,

But in your opinion, does he want to question me again? -Yeah right,

Captions 26-27, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 20

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But keep in mind that un'altra volta can also mean "some other time," so context is key. 

Se per te è troppo tardi, facciamo un'altra volta.

If it's too late for you, let's do it some other time.

Captions 31-32, La compagnia del cigno EP 5 - Part 9

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prefix ri-

We can also use the prefix ri- to express the idea of "again."

E un anno dopo, alla fine del duemila e nove, siamo ripartiti.

And one year later, at the end of two thousand nine, we began again.

Captions 36-37, Ritratti Fabiola Gianotti - Part 13

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And the prefix ri- is used all the time with the verb vedere (to see):

E be', se vuoi rivedere il tuo amato taccuino...

Well, if you want to see your beloved notebook again...

Caption 57, Provaci ancora prof! S1E3 - Una piccola bestia ferita - Part 16

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Every time we say arrivederci, we are hoping to see the person again.  

Arrivederci.

Goodbye.

Caption 1, La compagnia del cigno S1 EP4 - Part 4

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"again" in the negative

As we mentioned in a previous lesson, when we use ancora preceded by non, it often means "not yet." So, in order to say "not again," or "never again," we can use non più (not more, not anymore). 

Poi da quel giorno non l'ho più vista.

Then, from that day on, I never saw her again.

Caption 40, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S2 EP1 Cuccioli - Part 11

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Va be', se ti vergogni vuol dire che hai capito e quindi non lo farai più, e questa già è una buona notizia.

OK, if you're ashamed it means you understand, and so you're not going to do it again, and this is already good news.

Captions 8-9, La Ladra EP. 1 - Le cose cambiano - Part 8

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In that same previous lesson, we mentioned that ancora can also mean "still." Consider this example. 

Che l'hai ancora con me, Renzo?

What, are you still mad at me, Renzo?

Caption 34, Provaci ancora prof! S3EP2 Doppio imprevisto - Part 10

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There is a chance that the meaning could have been "again":  Are you mad at me again, Renzo? However, it would likely have been said in a different way. Once again, we have to be careful with the context when it comes to ancora. 

Another consideration is that ancora is used more often in situations where you do something repeatedly (again and again). In this case, we can also use ripetutamente (repeatedly).

Lo pongolava [sic: pungolava] ripetutamente con il suo becco, ma non si muoveva niente.

She would poke at it repeatedly with her beak, but nothing moved.

Captions 19-21, Le fiabe di Yabla Arianna racconta Il Brutto Anatroccolo - Part 1

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Di nuovo, on the other hand, can imply starting over, rather than just doing something again.  

We hope you have a better sense of different ways to say "again" in Italian. If you find other ways, please let us know! Write to us at [email protected]. Thanks for reading!

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In the movie Chi m'ha visto being currently offered on Yabla, a curious adjective has cropped up in a newspaper headline: musicista precario. It's used to describe Martino, the guitarist, and it happens that he was quite upset when he read it. 

Musicista precario a me?

An occasional musician? Me?

Caption 35, Chi m'ha visto - film - Part 12

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Chitarrista. Precario.

Guitarist. A temp.

Caption 2, Chi m'ha visto - film - Part 13

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Let's delve into this adjective for a moment. The English cognate for precario is "precarious," but it has a specific meaning to Italians in the modern-day world.

Primarily, precario is used to describe someone who doesn't have tenure, doesn't have a permanent job. For instance, many public school teachers in Italy find themselves in the position of being precario, and the word is also often used as a noun: un precario. Someone in this position can also be described as un supplente, a substitute teacher, even though they have been teaching in the same school for years. At the end of the school year, un supplente is let go, and has no guarantee of being re-hired for another year. These "substitute" teachers don't get paid during the summer months, but they have to be ready to start work (or not) from one day to the next, come September — definitely a precarious work situation!

Precario may also be used to describe a temporary worker or temporary job. 

Poi però... con questa crisi ho perso l'ultimo lavoro precario.

Then, however... with this crisis, I lost my last temporary job.

Caption 25, La Ladra - Ep. 1 - Le cose cambiano

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In Martino's case, the headline implies that he doesn't have a steady band he plays with on a regular basis. He has no guaranteed work and plays concerts only occasionally. In fact, he is just about unemployed. 

Precario can also mean the same as "precarious" in other situations, such as walking a tightrope.

While we are on the subject of precariousness, there is another curious word that means much the same thing (but not in the context of job security): in bilico. Essere in bilico is "to teeter," "to be in a precarious equilibrium." It's also used to mean "undecided."

Ero in bilico tra l'essere vittima, essere giudice

I was teetering between being a victim and being a judge

Caption 50, Måneskin - Torna a casa

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Ma sotto questa tua corazza lo so

But underneath this armor of yours I know

C'è una ragazza che sta lì in bilico

There's a girl who is there on the verge of falling

Captions 24-25, Max Gazzè - Ti Sembra Normale

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In this lesson, we’ll talk about a curious use of the noun imbarazzo (embarrassment). But first let’s look at another word associated with embarrassment: the noun la vergogna and the verb vergognarsi (to be ashamed, to be embarrassed). Here, you need context to help decide if someone is ashamed or embarrassed because they're closely tied.

Valeria, eri disperata, non è colpa tua.

Valeria, you were desperate. It's not your fault.

Però mi vergogno molto.

But I'm very ashamed.

Captions 6-7, La Ladra - Ep. 1 - Le cose cambiano - Part 8

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In the following example, the meaning is more of embarrassment. Note that the speaker is using the subjunctive.

Suo padre alleva pecore. È normale che se ne vergogni un po', no?

Her father raises sheep. It's normal for her to be a bit embarrassed about it, right?

Captions 69-70, Il Commissario Manara - S2EP4 - Miss Maremma - Part 2

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Italian often uses the noun form imbarazzo (embarrassment) with the preposition in (in) when expressing embarrassment, as in the following example.

Te ne sei andata come se avessi visto il diavolo.

You took off as if you'd seen the devil.

Scusami, non so che cosa mi è preso, forse mi sono sentita in imbarazzo.

Sorry, I don't know what came over me, maybe I felt embarrassed.

Captions 27-28, Il Commissario Manara - S1EP5 - Il Raggio Verde - Part 12

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In this week’s segment of La Ladra, Dante and Eva’s son are looking at bicycles, to replace Eva’s old bike, which Dante inadvertently wrecked. The bike store proprietor says:

Ecco, non c'è che l'imbarazzo della scelta.

Here we are. Just an embarrassment of riches to choose from.

Caption 37, La Ladra - Ep. 4 - Una magica bionda - Part 1

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The above translation uses an English idiom, which comes from an 18th-century French play. “Embarras” in French means “embarrassment” or “confusion.”  We could also say that the choice is overwhelming or almost embarrassing, because every item is worthy of being chosen.

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L’imbarazzo della scelta is a great expression to be familiar with because it’s used quite often when someone is a presented with a vast choice of great things to choose from, for example: What Italian city would you like to visit? C'è solo l'imbarazzo della scelta. The problem is choosing one!