Differents ways to say “JUST” in italian

Daniel from Hong Kong asks how to say “JUST” in Italian as in “I'm just going to the shops” or “I just wanna give you a hug”?

Depending on the meaning we are looking for, we can translate the English “JUST “ in mainly two ways:
only things / nothing else and not long ago

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With the meaning of “only this, nothing else“

  • SOLO
  • SOLTANTO
  • SOLAMENTE
  • GIUSTO

“Solo“, “solamente“ and “soltanto“ are basically interchangeable. “Giusto“ can also be used, but it tends to sound more casual and conversational.

▷  SOME EXAMPLES

VADO SOLO AL BAR
I am just going to the bar (that's basically all I'm doing)

VADO SOLAMENTE AL BAR E TORNO
I'm just going to the bar (and I'll be back soon)

VADO SOLTANTO AL BAR E TORNO
I'm just going to the bar (and I'll be back soon)

VADO GIUSTO AL BAR E TORNO
I'm just going to the bar (and I'll be back soon) – slightly more colloquial

VOGLIO SOLO DARTI UN ABBRACCIO
I just want to give you a hug

VOGLIO GIUSTO DARTI UN ABBRACCIO
I just want to give you a hug – slightly more colloquial

TI HO PORTATO GIUSTO UN PENSIERINO
I've just brought you a little something (as a present).
Here “just” means “only”.

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But a completely different meaning of the English “JUST” can be found when we speak in the past.
When what we are trying to say is that “we've just done something” we mean that it just happened. As in… “not long ago“.
When you mean this, in Italian we use a totally different word:

  • APPENA

Always used with a past tense!

▷  SOME EXAMPLES

HO APPENA COMPRATO UNA MACCHINA
I've just bought a car (as in, not long ago)

TI HO APPENA VISTO
I've just seen you (as in, just now, not long ago)

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