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mai

"mai" means "never" in Italian. It is number 66 on the frequency list, in A1 (adv).

Meaning

never; ever

IPA

/ˈma.i/

Level

A1

Practice this word

Updated October 21, 2026

Example sentences

• Come mai?
  How come?
  Tatoeba: Guybrush88 / freddy1
• "Quando?" "Mai."
  "When?" "Never."
  Tatoeba: carlosalberto / carlosalberto
• Non è mai qui.
  He's never here.
  Tatoeba: Guybrush88 / CH

Learned together

In the course, "mai" is in the same group as these words. You master them as a set.

• non not
• come how
• bene well
• qui here
• solo only, just
• quando when
• ora now
• ne of it, of them
• anche also, too, as well, besides

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