gli mancava

he was missing

→ gli

phrase Rare #33,454

he was missing Used when something was absent or lacking for him, or when he missed someone or something. Literally, it means “to him was lacking”; the thing that is missing usually comes after the phrase.

IT: Gli mancava il coraggio di parlare.

EN: He lacked the courage to speak.

Gli mancava molto.

He missed her a lot.

Gli mancava un dito.

He was missing a finger.

— Assassination (2015)

Gli mancava il baseball.

He missed baseball.

— L'uomo dei sogni (1989)

Sai, mi hanno detto che gli mancava un dente quando l'hanno trovato.

You know, they told me he was missing a tooth when they found him.

— Una di famiglia (2025)

Quello che gli mancava un orecchio.

The one who was missing an ear.

— Va' e vedi (1985)

Cominciò a calcolare il tempo che gli mancava.

He began to calculate the time he had left.

— It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

Gli mancava suo figlio.

He missed his son.