come sempre
Lemma: come sempre
Translation: as always; as usual; like always (adverbial phrase)
Etymology: This phrase combines 'come' (as, like, how) from Latin 'quōmodo' (in what manner) and 'sempre' (always) from Latin 'semper' (always, ever). The combination creates an expression indicating continuity or consistency of behavior or situations.
Example Usage
Come sempre, è arrivato in ritardo.
As always, he arrived late.
Siamo andati al solito ristorante, come sempre.
We went to the usual restaurant, as always.
Lei, come sempre, ha risolto il problema.
She, as usual, solved the problem.
Come sempre, il caffè italiano è eccellente.
As always, Italian coffee is excellent.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'come' as 'how' and 'sempre' as 'always' - 'how always' things happen in a certain way.
- Remember 'sempre' sounds a bit like 'same per' (same per usual).
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is frequently used in everyday Italian conversation to indicate patterns of behavior or recurring situations. It often carries a slight tone of resignation or acceptance of predictable circumstances.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'come sempre' means 'as always' indicating something that happens consistently every time, 'come spesso' means 'as often' indicating something that happens frequently but not necessarily every time.
Notes: The distinction is in the frequency: 'sempre' implies consistency without exception, while 'spesso' allows for exceptions.
Mnemonic: 'Sempre' contains 'pre' which can remind you of 'permanently' - it's always the case, while 'spesso' sounds like 'sparse' - it happens often but with gaps.