What does ancora mean?
Ancora is one of the most frequently used words in the Italian language, functioning as an adverb that captures two closely related ideas: doing something again, and something still being the case. When an Italian says 'ancora una volta,' they mean 'once again'; when they say 'non ho ancora mangiato,' they mean they haven't eaten yet — ancora marks what is unfinished, repeated, or ongoing. This dual meaning makes it remarkably versatile, appearing in casual conversation, literature, and song lyrics alike. The word derives from Latin, where related forms carried similar meanings of renewal and continuation. Although ancora is not part of standard English vocabulary, English speakers encounter it often through Italian music, opera, cuisine culture, and language study, and it is worth knowing for anyone engaging with Italian texts or conversation.
adverbAn Italian word meaning 'again' or 'still/yet', used to express repetition or continuation of an action or state.
- again — expressing repetition of an action ('ancora una volta')
- still, yet — expressing continuation of a state or action ('devo ancora farlo')
""Non ho finito, devo ancora lavorare." — I haven't finished; I still have to work."
""Fallo ancora!" — Do it again!"
""Sono ancora qui." — I'm still here."
In Italian, one tiny word does the work of two English ones: ancora means both 'again' and 'still'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ancora
Ancora comes from Latin, descending from expressions relating to repetition and continuation; it has been used in Italian since the language's earliest vernacular period and remains central to modern usage. It should not be confused with the homographic Italian noun àncora, meaning 'anchor,' which descends separately from Latin ancora via Greek ankura. The English cognate lineage of the anchor sense gives us the word 'anchor' itself.
How ancora is actually used
A core, extremely common Italian word used constantly in everyday speech. Not part of standard modern English vocabulary; it appears in English text mainly in translations from Italian or in language-learning contexts.
Easily confused with ancora
Despite superficial similarity to the English word 'anchor' (and the unrelated Italian noun àncora meaning anchor), the Italian ancora discussed here is an adverb of repetition and continuation.