Italian Nonché, Peraltro, Viceversa: Formal Connectives (C1)

🔍 In short. A contract signed in front of a notary, the editorial of a national newspaper, the introduction of a doctoral thesis. Italian nonché peraltro viceversa are three formal connectives that live in these registers: bureaucratic Italian, written journalism, academic prose. They almost never show up in casual speech, but they fill the page of any official document. Nonché adds the last item of a list with emphasis (“not to mention, as well as”). Peraltro contrasts or qualifies a previous statement (“however, moreover, by the way”). Viceversa swaps two terms reciprocally or turns the statement on its head (“vice versa, conversely”). This C1 guide untangles each one with examples from real Italian formal writing.


The one-line rule for italian nonché peraltro viceversa

Three formal connectives, three jobs. Nonché closes a list with emphasis on the last item; it lives in journalism, bureaucratic forms, contracts. Peraltro opens or interrupts a clause to add a “however” or “by the way”; it favours written register but appears in careful speech. Viceversa swaps two terms (“and the other way round”) or marks a sharp contrast with a previous statement (“on the contrary”). Italian italian nonché peraltro viceversa belong to formal Italian; in casual conversation, switch to e anche, però, invece.

Nonché: the formal ‘as well as’

The word nonché precedes the last item in a list, adding a touch of emphasis and signalling that the writer is closing the enumeration. It corresponds to English “as well as” or “not to mention”. The structure is consistent: comma + nonché + final item.

  • Saggi, poesie, dissertazioni, nonché un diario enciclopedico sono solo alcuni dei suoi lavori. Essays, poems, dissertations, as well as an encyclopaedic diary, are but a few of his works.
  • I lavori previsti includono la sostituzione delle tegole, il ripristino dei pluviali, nonché la verifica delle grondaie. The planned works include replacing the roof tiles, restoring the downpipes, as well as inspecting the gutters.
  • Riceverete l’ordine del giorno, nonché il prospetto delle spese annuali. You will receive the agenda, as well as the annual expense statement.
  • L’azienda si occupa di consulenza fiscale, dichiarazioni dei redditi, nonché contenziosi tributari. The firm handles tax consulting, income tax filings, as well as tax disputes.
  • Il candidato deve presentare il curriculum, la lettera di motivazione, nonché due referenze professionali. The candidate must submit the CV, the cover letter, as well as two professional references.

The function of nonché is to elevate the register. In a contract or an official letter, the simple e (“and”) feels too casual; nonché signals that the document is taking the enumeration seriously. The same content rewritten with e would still be grammatically correct but would lose the formal tone.

There is also a secondary use of nonché in negative contexts, where it means “and not to mention” or “let alone”. Non riesce neanche a leggere un titolo di giornale, nonché un romanzo di cinquecento pagine (“he can’t even read a newspaper headline, let alone a five-hundred-page novel”). This use is rarer and lives mostly in literary or essayistic prose.

Peraltro: ‘however’ and ‘moreover’

The word peraltro is one of the most flexible connectives in italian nonché peraltro viceversa. It can mean “however” (mild contrast), “moreover” (adding information), or “by the way” (introducing a parenthetical remark). The exact reading depends on context and position in the sentence.

  • Il contratto va firmato dal proprietario, peraltro anche dall’inquilino in caso di sublocazione. The contract must be signed by the owner; moreover, also by the tenant in case of subletting.
  • La proposta è interessante; peraltro, vorrei discuterne con il mio socio. The proposal is interesting; however, I’d like to discuss it with my business partner.
  • L’amministratore ha presentato il bilancio, peraltro già approvato dal revisore. The administrator presented the budget, which had already been approved by the auditor.
  • L’autore cita Dante, peraltro senza distinguere fra le tre cantiche. The author cites Dante, although without distinguishing between the three canticles.
  • Il candidato ha esperienza internazionale, peraltro confermata dalle referenze. The candidate has international experience, which is also confirmed by the references.

The position of peraltro can be initial, mid-clause (typically after the subject or after the verb), or in a parenthetical mid-sentence. In all positions the function is to introduce a qualifying observation. The closest English match shifts with the position: at the start it leans toward “however”; in the middle or end it leans toward “moreover” or “by the way”.

Viceversa: reciprocity and contrast

The word viceversa has two distinct functions in italian nonché peraltro viceversa. The first is the Latin literal sense, “in the opposite way” or “reciprocally”, corresponding to English “vice versa”. The second is adversative: “on the contrary”, “conversely”, marking a sharp reversal of expectation.

1. Reciprocal use (everyday meaning, often at end of clause):

  • I residenti possono parcheggiare nel cortile dei vicini, e viceversa. Residents can park in the neighbours’ courtyard, and vice versa.
  • I libri della biblioteca comunale possono essere restituiti nelle altre sedi, e viceversa. Books from the city library can be returned at other branches, and vice versa.
  • Lui chiama lei “amica”, e viceversa. He calls her “friend”, and vice versa.

2. Adversative use (formal, often at start of clause, reverses expectation):

  • Pensavamo di poter rinviare i lavori, viceversa l’amministratore ha indicato urgenza. We thought we could postpone the works; on the contrary, the administrator indicated urgency.
  • Le iscrizioni chiudono il 15 maggio, viceversa per i non-residenti la scadenza è anticipata al 30 aprile. Registrations close on 15 May; conversely, for non-residents the deadline is brought forward to 30 April.
  • Il treno ritarda di mezz’ora, viceversa l’autobus parte puntuale. The train is delayed by half an hour; the bus, on the other hand, leaves on time.

The two uses can shade into each other in actual text. Italian writers exploit the ambiguity to suggest both “the reverse pattern also holds” and “but in fact the opposite is true” in a single word. The reader picks up the right reading from context.

🎯 Mini-challenge: Fill in the blank with nonché, peraltro, or viceversa.

  1. Il candidato presenterà il CV, la lettera di motivazione, ____ due referenze. (list close)
  2. La pratica è stata accettata; ____, va completata con una firma. (qualifying remark)
  3. I dipendenti possono lavorare da casa, e ____ (reciprocal)
  4. Pensavo di trovare il negozio chiuso, ____ era ancora aperto. (contrast)
  5. Il libro tratta linguistica, semantica, ____ pragmatica. (list close)
👉 See answers

 

1. nonché (formal list closure)

2. peraltro (qualifying)

3. viceversa (reciprocal)

4. viceversa (adversative)

5. nonché (formal list closure)

Register: where these connectives live

The three words of italian nonché peraltro viceversa share a register: formal Italian, written or carefully spoken. They are at home in:

  • Contracts and legal documents: il presente accordo, nonché le clausole accessorie, costituisce parte integrante…
  • Journalism and editorials: il governo ha annunciato la riforma, peraltro già preparata da mesi
  • Academic prose: l’autore cita Manzoni, peraltro senza approfondirne la poetica
  • Bureaucratic communications: le scadenze valgono per i residenti, viceversa per i non-residenti…
  • Formal speeches: ringraziamo i partecipanti, nonché gli organizzatori

In everyday conversation Italians use the simpler alternatives: e anche or più for nonché, però or tra l’altro for peraltro, al contrario or invece for viceversa. Using the formal connectives in casual speech is not wrong, but it can sound stiff or self-consciously bookish.

Position and punctuation

Each connective in italian nonché peraltro viceversa has its preferred positions and standard punctuation. Getting these right is half of writing well in formal Italian.

WordPositionStandard punctuation
nonchébetween penultimate and last list itempreceded by comma: X, Y, nonché Z
peraltro (initial)start of clausefollowed by comma: Peraltro, il bilancio…
peraltro (mid)after subject or verbcommas on both sides: il bilancio, peraltro, è approvato
viceversa (reciprocal)end of clausepreceded by comma: … e viceversa
viceversa (adversative)start of clausepreceded by comma OR semicolon

Italian written style favours commas around these connectives. In journalism you’ll often see them set off with commas on both sides for emphasis, especially peraltro in mid-position. In contracts, the punctuation is more rigid: comma before nonché, semicolon before adversative viceversa.

Plain Italian alternatives

When you want the same meaning in a less formal register, italian nonché peraltro viceversa each have everyday substitutes. The substitution doesn’t break the sentence; it just drops the register.

FormalEveryday alternativeRegister shift
nonchée anche, e pure, piùcontract → conversation
peraltro (however)però, comunque, in ogni casoessay → conversation
peraltro (moreover)tra l’altro, inoltreessay → conversation
viceversa (reciprocal)e anche al contrario, e così puredocument → speech
viceversa (adversative)al contrario, invece, anziessay → conversation

A useful drill for C1 learners: rewrite a formal Italian sentence in everyday register and back. The exercise sharpens awareness of register without forcing a vocabulary list. A contract that opens with il presente accordo, nonché le clausole accessorie can be rephrased as questo accordo, e anche le clausole accessorie for a friend reading the same document. Going the other way is equally instructive: a casual sentence like oggi ho preso il pane e anche il latte becomes, in a formal report, oggi ho acquistato il pane, nonché il latte. The exercise reveals how Italian register is layered across a small set of substitutions; mastery of the layering is what separates B2 from C1 written competence.

Common mistakes

  • Writing non ché (separated) or nonchè (grave accent). The correct spelling is nonché, one word, acute accent on the final é, like perché and .
  • Using nonché in casual conversation: oggi ho comprato il pane, nonché il latte. Grammatically fine, but it sounds like reading a contract aloud. In speech use e anche or più.
  • Confusing peraltro with per altro (two words). The single-word form is the connective; the two-word form is the literal “for something else” (rare).
  • Placing viceversa at the start of a non-reversal sentence: viceversa, ho preso il treno. Without an antecedent contrast or reciprocity, the word doesn’t work. It needs a previous statement to reverse or mirror.
  • Mixing reciprocal and adversative viceversa: i miei genitori possono visitarmi, viceversa devo lavorare. The reciprocal use needs the same kind of action; the adversative needs a clean contrast. Better: i miei genitori possono visitarmi quando vogliono, e viceversa.
  • Translating “vice versa” word-by-word into “vice versa” in English: in formal Italian, when the meaning is “on the contrary”, English would not use “vice versa” but “conversely” or “on the other hand”.

Cheat sheet for italian nonché peraltro viceversa

WordMeaningFunctionRegisterExample
nonchéas well as, not to mentioncloses a list with emphasisformal/writtenX, Y, nonché Z sono parte dell’accordo
peraltro (start)howevermild contrastformal/writtenPeraltro, la proposta non è definitiva
peraltro (mid)moreover, by the wayadds qualifying infoformal/writtenIl candidato, peraltro, ha esperienza internazionale
viceversa (end)vice versareciprocal exchangeeveryday + formalI libri vanno restituiti in altre sedi, e viceversa
viceversa (start)on the contrary, converselyreverses expectationformalViceversa, l’amministratore ha indicato urgenza

Dialogue at an enoteca in Lecce

The following dialogue shows italian nonché peraltro viceversa in a more lived-in setting than a contract: a wine shop in Lecce on a Friday evening. Margherita runs the place; Lorenzo is a regular customer; his cousin Caterina, visiting from Padova, has tagged along to pick wines for a small dinner at his place. The register stays elevated : wine talk in Italy slips naturally into formal vocabulary : but the conversation is warm, opinionated, and far from a board meeting.

  • 👨🏽‍🦱 Lorenzo: Margherita, mia cugina è venuta a trovarmi dal Veneto. Vorrei farle scoprire qualcosa di nostro: un Primitivo, un Negroamaro, nonché un Salice Salentino se ne hai uno che vale.
  • 👩🏼‍🦰 Margherita: Il Salice ce l’ho, peraltro di un piccolo produttore di Guagnano che seguo da anni. Tua cugina ama i rossi corposi?
  • 👩🏽‍🦱 Caterina: A casa bevo soprattutto vini del nord, Valpolicella, Refoschi. Viceversa qui al sud devo ancora orientarmi, non ho trovato un rosso che mi convinca davvero.
  • 👩🏼‍🦰 Margherita: Tipico. Il Primitivo, peraltro, è cugino dello Zinfandel californiano, ma in Salento prende un’altra anima. Te lo faccio assaggiare al volo.
  • 👨🏽‍🦱 Lorenzo: Per cena ho pensato a delle orecchiette con le cime di rapa, poi agnello alla brace. Il Primitivo regge la carne, viceversa la verdura amara vuole qualcosa di più nervoso.
  • 👩🏼‍🦰 Margherita: Per le orecchiette ti consiglio un rosato del Castello Monaci, fresco e leggero. Peraltro, la stessa cantina fa anche un bianco di Verdeca che ti sorprenderebbe.
  • 👩🏽‍🦱 Caterina: Posso peraltro chiedere come si conserva un rosato aperto? Da noi dura poco.
  • 👩🏼‍🦰 Margherita: Frigorifero, tappo a vuoto, due giorni al massimo. I rossi corposi reggono di più, viceversa i rosati e i bianchi vanno bevuti subito.
  • 👨🏽‍🦱 Lorenzo: Prendiamo allora il rosato per l’antipasto, il Primitivo per il secondo, nonché una bottiglia di passito per dopo.
  • 👩🏼‍🦰 Margherita: Ottima scelta. Lorenzo, ti incarto io tutto. Caterina, viceversa, torna a Padova con questa lista: te la scrivo, così a casa hai i nomi giusti.

What to notice in the dialogue

  • un Primitivo, un Negroamaro, nonché un Salice Salentino: classic list closure, formal but lively register.
  • peraltro di un piccolo produttore di Guagnano: mid-clause qualifying remark adding background info.
  • Viceversa qui al sud devo ancora orientarmi: adversative, marking the contrast between Caterina’s northern habit and the southern terroir.
  • Il Primitivo, peraltro, è cugino dello Zinfandel: parenthetical aside introducing a curious fact.
  • viceversa la verdura amara vuole qualcosa di più nervoso: contrast between two food-wine pairings.
  • Peraltro, la stessa cantina fa anche un bianco: start-of-clause “moreover”, adding a related suggestion.
  • Posso peraltro chiedere: polite mid-clause “by the way”, introducing a tangential question.
  • viceversa i rosati e i bianchi vanno bevuti subito: contrast between aging behaviour of reds and rosés.
  • il Primitivo per il secondo, nonché una bottiglia di passito: list closure that adds a fourth item with a flourish.
  • Caterina, viceversa, torna a Padova con questa lista: contrast between Lorenzo (who stays and takes the bottles) and Caterina (who goes home with the names).

Test your understanding

Take the quiz below to test what you’ve learned about italian nonché peraltro viceversa.

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Frequently asked questions

These questions about italian nonché peraltro viceversa come from real C1 learners working through formal Italian texts. For the dictionary view, the Treccani entries on nonché, peraltro, and viceversa give the full picture in standard Italian.

What’s the difference between nonché and e?

Both connect items in a list, but nonché is formal and signals that the last item is being added with emphasis. E is the everyday ‘and’. A contract will use ‘X, Y, nonché Z’; a friend talking will say ‘X, Y e Z’. Both are grammatically correct; the choice is register. Use nonché in writing, contracts, journalism; use e in conversation.

Can peraltro mean both ‘however’ and ‘moreover’?

Yes. The exact meaning depends on position and context. At the start of a clause, peraltro tends to mean ‘however’ (mild contrast). In the middle of a clause, it tends to mean ‘moreover’ or ‘by the way’ (adding information). The English match shifts with the position. Italian writers exploit this flexibility to soften contrasts or add qualifying remarks without changing word.

Is viceversa always ‘vice versa’ (reciprocal)?

No. Viceversa has two senses. The reciprocal sense matches English ‘vice versa’ and usually closes a clause: ‘i libri vanno restituiti nelle altre sedi, e viceversa’. The adversative sense matches English ‘on the contrary’ or ‘conversely’ and usually opens a clause: ‘pensavamo di rinviare, viceversa c’è urgenza’. The two senses can shade into each other, and Italian writers sometimes exploit the ambiguity.

In what register do these connectives appear?

Formal and written. You’ll find italian nonché peraltro viceversa in contracts, legal documents, academic prose, journalism editorials, bureaucratic communications, and careful spoken Italian (such as a board meeting, or a formal interview). They are rare in casual conversation, where Italians prefer e anche, però, invece, tra l’altro.

Can I use these in conversation?

You can, but you’ll sound bookish or self-conscious. Italians don’t reach for nonché when ordering a coffee or chatting with a friend; the simpler e anche or più covers the same job. For C1 learners the strategy is to recognise these connectives confidently in written texts and to use them selectively when the register really calls for them, such as in a formal email or a written report.

Where in the sentence does peraltro go?

Peraltro is flexible. It can open a clause (Peraltro, la proposta è interessante), sit between subject and verb (la proposta, peraltro, è interessante), or follow the verb (è interessante, peraltro). The position fine-tunes the meaning: initial position leans toward ‘however’, mid-clause leans toward ‘moreover’ or ‘by the way’. Italian writers also use comma-flanked peraltro for stronger emphasis on the qualifying remark.

How does Italian punctuate these connectives?

Nonché takes a comma before it: X, Y, nonché Z. Peraltro takes a comma after it when initial (Peraltro, …), and commas on both sides when mid-clause (…, peraltro, …). Viceversa in reciprocal use takes a comma before it at the end of a clause (… e viceversa). In adversative use, viceversa often follows a comma or semicolon at the start of a new clause. Italian formal writing tends to be generous with commas around these connectives.

Riccardo
Milanese, graduated in Italian literature a long time ago, I began teaching Italian online in Japan back in 2003. I usually spend winter in Tokyo and go back to Italy when the cherry blossoms shed their petals. I do not use social media.


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