invece

Invece is an Italian adverb and coordinating conjunction meaning “instead” or “on the contrary.” It signals a contrast with a previous statement, expectation, or assumption, or introduces an alternative action. It is commonly placed at the beginning of a sentence or clause to foreground the contrast, but it can also connect two clauses within the same sentence.

Etymology and form: Invece derives from the Latin phrase in vice (in vicem), meaning “in place of” or “in turn.” Over time this evolved into the modern Italian word, retaining the sense of substitution or opposition.

Usage notes: Invece can stand alone to mark a contrast, as in: “Non era previsto; invece è successo.” It can also connect clauses: “Volevo andare al cinema, ma invece sono rimasto a casa.” The phrase puoi usare with invetce di to express replacement: “Invece di studiare, ha guardato la TV.” With the preposition di, the construction “invece di + infinito/gerundio/participio” is common and expresses that one action is chosen over another: “Invece di mangiare, ha iniziato a correre.”

Synonyms and contrasts: Related expressions include “al contrario,” “d’altra parte,” or the construction “invece che.” Differences depend on nuance; “invece” emphasizes replacement or a counterpoint rather than mere disagreement.

Examples:

- Non era la risposta che attendevo; invece è stata positiva.

- Invece di studiare, ha passato la serata a vedere film.

- Volevo comprare quello, ma invece ho preso un altro modello.

See also: Invece di.