Meaning
in the meantime, (in the) meanwhile, while
- anyhow
- but
- to begin with, for one thing
In a sentence
Io cucino, intanto tu apparecchi la tavola.
I'll cook, meanwhile you set the table.
Aspetta qui; intanto vado a prendere il pane.
Wait here; in the meantime I'll go get the bread.
Non so il resto, ma intanto andiamo via.
I don't know the rest, but for now let's go.
Usage notes
- Use 'intanto' for actions happening simultaneously, unlike 'mentre' which needs a verb. Example: 'Io cucino, intanto tu apparecchia.'
- Avoid overusing 'intanto' for 'anyhow'—it’s less common and can sound unnatural. Prefer 'comunque' or 'in ogni caso'.
- In spoken Italian, 'intanto che' is often shortened to 'intanto' + present tense. Example: 'Intanto aspetti, ti porto un caffè.'