For English speakers learning Italian, one of the first stumbling blocks is the word better. In English, we use better both when describing people or things (This book is better than that one) and when describing actions (She sings better than I do). Italian, however, draws a sharp line between these two functions.
That’s where the two words meglio and migliore come in. They both translate to better, but they are not interchangeable. The difference lies in grammar:
● Meglio → adverb (modifies verbs or actions).
● Migliore → adjective (modifies nouns).
But there’s a special twist that students quickly encounter: the everyday expression “It’s better to…”. This construction always uses meglio, and it’s one of the most frequent ways learners will see this word in action. Let’s explore why.
1. Meglio: The Adverbial “Better.”
Meglio is the comparative of the adverb bene (well). That means it describes how something is done. Since adverbs modify verbs, meglio naturally appears in sentences that evaluate an action.
● Luca canta meglio di me.
→ Luca sings better than I do.
● Sto molto meglio oggi.
→ I feel much better today.
In both cases, meglio is not describing a thing, but the quality of an action: singing, feeling.
Memory trick: if you can replace better with well in English, then Italian requires meglio.
● She sings well → She sings better → Lei canta meglio.
2. Migliore: The Adjectival “Better”
Migliore is the comparative of buono (good). It describes nouns—people, objects, or ideas.
● Questo vino è migliore di quello.
→ This wine is better than that one.
● Francesca è la mia migliore amica.
→ Francesca is my best friend.
Here, migliore tells us something about a thing (vino, amica), not about how something is done.
Memory trick: if you can replace better with good in English, then Italian requires migliore.
● This is a good solution → This is a better solution → Questa è una soluzione migliore.
3. “It’s Better To…” = È meglio…
Now we come to the expression that deserves special emphasis: It’s better to…
In Italian, this construction always uses meglio, never migliore. That’s because here, we are not describing a thing, but making a judgment about an action or decision.
Examples:
● È meglio andare adesso.
→ It’s better to go now.
● È meglio non dire nulla.
→ It’s better not to say anything.
● Sarebbe meglio aspettare fino a domani.
→ It would be better to wait until tomorrow.
● È meglio che tu studi di più.
→ It’s better if you study more.
In the last example, notice the structure: È meglio che + subjunctive (che tu studi). Italian uses the subjunctive here because the phrase expresses a suggestion or judgment, not a factual statement.
Why not migliore?
Saying “È migliore andare” would sound strange to native speakers. Migliore compares nouns, but in this context there is no noun to compare—only an action. Since actions belong to the realm of adverbs, meglio is the only correct choice.
4. Does the “Good–Well” Trick Still Work Here?
Yes — the trick still works if you think carefully.
● English: It’s better to go now.
● Test: Can I replace better with well? → It’s well to go now. (awkward, but it shows the meaning leans toward well rather than good).
● Test with good: It’s good to go now. (possible, but the sense is not a comparison of two things, it’s about the action).
This explains why Italians prefer meglio. Even though English doesn’t use well here, Italian treats “It’s better to…” as part of the adverbial family. The action (andare, aspettare, dire) is what’s being evaluated, so meglio is the natural choice.
5. The Superlatives: Il migliore vs. Il meglio
Both words also extend into the superlative (the best), but again the function determines which one is correct.
● Il migliore (adjective) → the best one, referring to a noun.
○ Lui è il migliore della squadra. → He is the best on the team.
○ Questa è la migliore idea. → This is the best idea.
● Il meglio (noun) → the best part, the best of something.
○ Abbiamo scelto il meglio per te. → We chose the best for you.
○ Goditi il meglio della vita. → Enjoy the best of life.
6. Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse the two words when translating directly from English. ● Wrong: “Questo libro è meglio di quello.”
● Correct: “Questo libro è migliore di quello.”
● Wrong: “È migliore andare subito.”
● Correct: “È meglio andare subito.”
7. Summary Chart
English use Italian form Why? He sings better. Lui canta meglio. Action → adverb. This book is better. Questo libro è migliore. Noun → adjective. It’s better to go. È meglio andare. Action/judgment → adverb. She is my best friend. Lei è la mia migliore amica. Noun → adjective.
We chose the best for you. Abbiamo scelto il meglio per te. Used as a noun.
Conclusion
Although both meglio and migliore mean better, they serve different grammatical functions:
● Migliore = better as an adjective, describing nouns.
● Meglio = better as an adverb, describing actions.
● È meglio… = the standard expression for “It’s better to…” because it evaluates an action or decision.
The good–well trick is still useful: when you could imagine well/better in English, use meglio; when you could imagine good/better, use migliore. In the case of “It’s better to…”, Italian sides with the adverb, because what is being judged is not a thing but an action.
By keeping this distinction in mind, and practicing especially with the very common È meglio… structure, you’ll avoid mistakes and sound much more natural when speaking Italian.
Now it’s your turn!
Now that you have learned the main differences, write two sentences in the comments: one using the adjective “migliore” and the other using the adverb “meglio”. I’ll be happy to correct you!
