ove — Italian dictionary · HeyPolyglot

ove

/ˈo.ve/conjunction / pronounC1

Most common · Top 500

Meaning · conjunction

where, if, in case

Si fermò esattamente nel luogo ove era nato.
He stopped in the exact place where he was born.

Ove fosse necessario, potremmo rimandare l'incontro a domani.
Should it be necessary, we could postpone the meeting until tomorrow.

Ove desideri maggiori informazioni, non esiti a contattarci.
Should you require further information, do not hesitate to contact us.

Very formal or bureaucratic; in everyday speech, use dove for place and se / qualora for conditions.
As a conjunction, it often introduces legal or administrative clauses; it can sound stiff in conversation.
Do not confuse ove with dove: ove is literary/formal, while dove is the normal spoken form.

where

Il punto ove ci incontreremo è già deciso.
The place where we will meet has already been decided.

Indica il cassetto ove hai messo le chiavi.
Show the drawer where you put the keys.

Non so ove sia il mio telefono.
I don't know where my phone is.

Word forms (1)

Word	Word forms
ove

Ove is formal or literary; in everyday speech, use dove for “where.”
It often appears in legal, bureaucratic, or written Italian, especially meaning “where” or “in cases where.”
Do not use ove in casual conversation unless aiming for an elevated or old-fashioned tone.