Più

Più is a common Italian word that functions primarily as an adverb and a conjunction meaning “more” or “in addition.” It is central to forming comparisons, as in più grande (bigger), più di (more than), and più che (more than / rather). It also appears in fixed expressions such as non più, meaning “no longer,” and più o meno, meaning “more or less.” As a degree modifier, più precedes an adjective or adverb to indicate increased degree (più alto, più lentamente). The superlative is typically formed with il più or la più before the adjective (il più alto, la più importante).

Orthography and etymology: Più is spelled with a grave accent on the u; this diacritic helps distinguish it in standard Italian from piu, which is generally considered nonstandard in formal writing. The word derives from Latin plus, via Vulgar Latin, preserving the sense of addition or excess. In uppercase text, it is written PIÙ.

Other uses: In arithmetic, più is the spoken form of the plus operator: tre più quattro equals sette. In music, piu appears in directives such as piu mosso or piu piano to indicate greater speed or softer dynamics. Across contexts, the diacritic remains important for correct pronunciation and meaning.

Usage notes: Non più emphasizes cessation or end of a state, while il più frequently marks the element of greatest degree within a group. While piu without the accent may appear in informal settings or due to typographic constraints, standard Italian orthography preserves the acute diacritic to ensure clarity.