Words that turn up everywhere in Italian

Near the end of this list sits pure, and the two-word gloss gives away only half of it. On its own the word means also — vieni pure tu, you come as well. But the use that matters is the one in the example, where it follows an order. Entri pure is not a command at all: it hands over permission, and it is what a host says at the door. So are si accomodi pure, dica pure from a shop assistant waiting to be told what you want, prenda pure, vai pure. The imperative carries the instruction and pure takes every trace of pressure out of it, which is why a learner who never uses it sounds abrupt without meaning to. English has no such particle and has to spend a phrase instead: « do come in », « please go ahead », « feel free to take one », « by all means ». Two things are worth copying exactly. It stands after the verb and never before it, and it is never stressed: pure is said lightly and quickly, almost swallowed.