The most commonly used Italian verbs come up in every conversation, every message, every everyday situation. Knowing them means being able to build hundreds of sentences from the very first weeks of learning. This list covers the 30 essential verbs of Italian conjugation, with their complete conjugation in the present indicative and a concrete example for each.
In Italian, subject pronouns (io, tu, lui, lei, noi, voi, loro) are generally omitted from the sentence because the verb ending is enough to identify the person. They are only used for emphasis.
1. Essere – to be
Essere is one of the two Italian auxiliary verbs. It is used to describe a person’s identity, state, origin or profession. It is also the auxiliary used to form the past tense of many verbs, particularly verbs of movement and reflexive verbs. Its conjugation is entirely irregular.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | sono | I am |
| tu | sei | you are |
| lui / lei | è | he / she is |
| noi | siamo | we are |
| voi | siete | you are (plural) |
| loro | sono | they are |
- Sei di nuovo in ritardo! (You’re late again!)
- Siamo pronti. (We are ready.)
2. Avere – to have
Avere is the second auxiliary verb. It expresses possession, but also physical or emotional states: avere fame (to be hungry), avere paura (to be afraid), avere freddo (to be cold). It serves as the auxiliary for forming the past tense of the majority of transitive verbs.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | ho | I have |
| tu | hai | you have |
| lui / lei | ha | he / she has |
| noi | abbiamo | we have |
| voi | avete | you have (plural) |
| loro | hanno | they have |
- Hai voglia di un aperitivo? (Do you fancy an aperitivo?)
- Ho freddo. (I’m cold.)
3. Fare – to do, to make
Fare is the most versatile verb in the Italian language. It appears in a very large number of fixed everyday expressions: fare colazione (to have breakfast), fare una domanda (to ask a question), fare una passeggiata (to go for a walk), fare finta (to pretend). Its conjugation is irregular.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | faccio | I do / make |
| tu | fai | you do / make |
| lui / lei | fa | he / she does / makes |
| noi | facciamo | we do / make |
| voi | fate | you do / make (plural) |
| loro | fanno | they do / make |
- Mi fai un piacere? (Can you do me a favour?)
- Che cosa fai stasera? (What are you doing tonight?)
4. Dire – to say, to tell
Dire is used to report speech, give information or ask for something. An irregular second-group verb, its past participle is detto.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | dico | I say |
| tu | dici | you say |
| lui / lei | dice | he / she says |
| noi | diciamo | we say |
| voi | dite | you say (plural) |
| loro | dicono | they say |
- Mi puoi dire l’ora, per favore? (Can you tell me the time, please?)
- Dico la verità. (I’m telling the truth.)
5. Andare – to go
Andare indicates movement towards a place. It is irregular: the root and- only appears in the first two singular persons. The other persons use a different root.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | vado | I go |
| tu | vai | you go |
| lui / lei | va | he / she goes |
| noi | andiamo | we go |
| voi | andate | you go (plural) |
| loro | vanno | they go |
- Perché non andiamo al cinema? (Why don’t we go to the cinema?)
- Vado a casa. (I’m going home.)
6. Venire – to come
Venire indicates movement towards the speaker. It is irregular. Past participle: venuto, conjugated with the auxiliary essere.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | vengo | I come |
| tu | vieni | you come |
| lui / lei | viene | he / she comes |
| noi | veniamo | we come |
| voi | venite | you come (plural) |
| loro | vengono | they come |
- Vieni a ballare stasera? (Are you coming dancing tonight?)
- Da dove vieni? (Where are you from?)
7. Stare – to be, to stay
Stare differs from essere in its usage: it describes a temporary state, a physical position or an ongoing situation. It appears in many fixed expressions and is used to form the progressive gerund (sto mangiando: I am eating). It is irregular.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | sto | I am / I stay |
| tu | stai | you are / you stay |
| lui / lei | sta | he / she is / stays |
| noi | stiamo | we are / we stay |
| voi | state | you are / you stay (plural) |
| loro | stanno | they are / they stay |
- Come stai? (How are you?)
- Sto bene, grazie. (I’m fine, thank you.)
8. Potere – to be able to, can
Potere is a modal verb: it is always used followed by an infinitive to express ability, permission or possibility. It is irregular.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | posso | I can |
| tu | puoi | you can |
| lui / lei | può | he / she can |
| noi | possiamo | we can |
| voi | potete | you can (plural) |
| loro | possono | they can |
- Purtroppo non posso, magari un’altra volta. (Unfortunately I can’t, maybe another time.)
- Puoi parlare più lentamente? (Can you speak more slowly?)
9. Volere – to want
Volere is a modal verb that expresses a desire, an intention or a request. Widely used in everyday life for ordering, suggesting or expressing a wish. It is irregular.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | voglio | I want |
| tu | vuoi | you want |
| lui / lei | vuole | he / she wants |
| noi | vogliamo | we want |
| voi | volete | you want (plural) |
| loro | vogliono | they want |
- Volete ancora qualcosa? (Would you like anything else?)
- Voglio un caffè, per favore. (I’d like a coffee, please.)
10. Dovere – to have to, must
Dovere is a modal verb expressing an obligation or necessity. Always followed by an infinitive. It is irregular.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | devo | I must |
| tu | devi | you must |
| lui / lei | deve | he / she must |
| noi | dobbiamo | we must |
| voi | dovete | you must (plural) |
| loro | devono | they must |
- Devo scappare. A presto! (I have to run. See you soon!)
- Dobbiamo partire domani. (We have to leave tomorrow.)
11. Sapere – to know
Sapere expresses acquired knowledge or intellectual ability. Not to be confused with conoscere (to know a person or a place). It is irregular.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | so | I know |
| tu | sai | you know |
| lui / lei | sa | he / she knows |
| noi | sappiamo | we know |
| voi | sapete | you know (plural) |
| loro | sanno | they know |
- Boh, non lo so! (Hmm, I don’t know!)
- Sai parlare italiano? (Can you speak Italian?)
12. Vedere – to see
Vedere is used in the literal sense (to perceive visually) and figuratively (to understand, to meet). Irregular past participle: visto or veduto.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | vedo | I see |
| tu | vedi | you see |
| lui / lei | vede | he / she sees |
| noi | vediamo | we see |
| voi | vedete | you see (plural) |
| loro | vedono | they see |
- Vedo che vi divertite qui. (I can see you’re having fun here.)
- Ci vediamo domani! (See you tomorrow!)
13. Dare – to give
Dare expresses the transfer of an object or information to someone. It appears in several common expressions: dare un’occhiata (to take a look), dare fastidio (to bother). It is irregular.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | do | I give |
| tu | dai | you give |
| lui / lei | dà | he / she gives |
| noi | diamo | we give |
| voi | date | you give (plural) |
| loro | danno | they give |
- Mi dai un consiglio? (Can you give me some advice?)
- Do un’occhiata. (I’ll take a look.)
14. Parlare – to speak, to talk
Parlare is a regular first-group verb (ending in -are). It is used to refer to the act of speaking, and also to specify a language: parlare italiano (to speak Italian).
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | parlo | I speak |
| tu | parli | you speak |
| lui / lei | parla | he / she speaks |
| noi | parliamo | we speak |
| voi | parlate | you speak (plural) |
| loro | parlano | they speak |
- Scusi, può parlare più lentamente? (Excuse me, could you speak more slowly?)
- Parla italiano molto bene. (He speaks Italian very well.)
15. Trovare – to find
Trovare is used in the literal sense (to locate an object) and figuratively (to find something pleasant or good). It is a regular first-group verb.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | trovo | I find |
| tu | trovi | you find |
| lui / lei | trova | he / she finds |
| noi | troviamo | we find |
| voi | trovate | you find (plural) |
| loro | trovano | they find |
- Dove trovo una farmacia? (Where can I find a pharmacy?)
- Trovo questa città bellissima. (I find this city beautiful.)
16. Prendere – to take
Prendere covers a wide range of uses: taking transport, having a coffee, making a decision. Irregular past participle: preso. It is a second-group verb.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | prendo | I take |
| tu | prendi | you take |
| lui / lei | prende | he / she takes |
| noi | prendiamo | we take |
| voi | prendete | you take (plural) |
| loro | prendono | they take |
- Prendiamo un caffè? (Shall we have a coffee?)
- Prendo il treno delle otto. (I’m taking the eight o’clock train.)
17. Sentire – to hear, to smell, to taste
Sentire covers three senses in one: hearing, smell and taste depending on the context. It is also used in affective expressions such as sentirsi (to feel). It is a regular third-group verb.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | sento | I hear / smell |
| tu | senti | you hear / smell |
| lui / lei | sente | he / she hears / smells |
| noi | sentiamo | we hear / smell |
| voi | sentite | you hear / smell (plural) |
| loro | sentono | they hear / smell |
- Hai sentito le novità? (Have you heard the news?)
- Sento profumo di caffè. (I can smell coffee.)
18. Guardare – to look, to watch
Guardare refers to the act of looking intentionally, unlike vedere (to see, to perceive). It is a regular first-group verb.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | guardo | I watch / look |
| tu | guardi | you watch / look |
| lui / lei | guarda | he / she watches / looks |
| noi | guardiamo | we watch / look |
| voi | guardate | you watch / look (plural) |
| loro | guardano | they watch / look |
- Guardiamo un film stasera? (Shall we watch a film tonight?)
- Guarda che bello! (Look how beautiful!)
19. Mettere – to put, to place
Mettere is used to place an object somewhere, but also in expressions such as mettere in ordine (to tidy up) or mettere a fuoco (to focus). Irregular past participle: messo.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | metto | I put |
| tu | metti | you put |
| lui / lei | mette | he / she puts |
| noi | mettiamo | we put |
| voi | mettete | you put (plural) |
| loro | mettono | they put |
- Dove metto la valigia? (Where shall I put the suitcase?)
- Metti la giacca, fa freddo. (Put your jacket on, it’s cold.)
20. Lasciare – to leave, to let
Lasciare has two main meanings: to leave something somewhere and to leave someone or a place. It is a regular first-group verb, but note the spelling: before endings starting with -i, the i of the stem is not doubled.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | lascio | I leave / let |
| tu | lasci | you leave / let |
| lui / lei | lascia | he / she leaves / lets |
| noi | lasciamo | we leave / let |
| voi | lasciate | you leave / let (plural) |
| loro | lasciano | they leave / let |
- Lasciami in pace! (Leave me alone!)
- Ho lasciato le chiavi in macchina. (I left the keys in the car.)
21. Mangiare – to eat
Mangiare belongs to verbs ending in -iare: when the conjugation ending begins with -i, the i is not doubled. It is a regular first-group verb, widely used in everyday Italian conversation.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | mangio | I eat |
| tu | mangi | you eat |
| lui / lei | mangia | he / she eats |
| noi | mangiamo | we eat |
| voi | mangiate | you eat (plural) |
| loro | mangiano | they eat |
- Cosa mangi a pranzo? (What are you having for lunch?)
- Mangiamo fuori stasera. (We’re eating out tonight.)
22. Capire – to understand
Capire belongs to the -ire verbs that take the suffix -isc- between the stem and the ending in the three singular persons and the third person plural. This suffix is a distinctive feature of the third group.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | capisco | I understand |
| tu | capisci | you understand |
| lui / lei | capisce | he / she understands |
| noi | capiamo | we understand |
| voi | capite | you understand (plural) |
| loro | capiscono | they understand |
- Non capisco, può ripetere? (I don’t understand, could you repeat?)
- Capisci l’italiano? (Do you understand Italian?)
23. Conoscere – to know (a person or place)
Conoscere refers to knowing a person, a place or a fact. Not to be confused with sapere, which expresses intellectual knowledge or ability. Past participle: conosciuto.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | conosco | I know |
| tu | conosci | you know |
| lui / lei | conosce | he / she knows |
| noi | conosciamo | we know |
| voi | conoscete | you know (plural) |
| loro | conoscono | they know |
- Conosci Roma? (Do you know Rome?)
- Non conosco questa canzone. (I don’t know this song.)
24. Uscire – to go out
Uscire indicates leaving a place to go outside. It is an irregular third-group verb. It is conjugated with the auxiliary essere in the past tense.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | esco | I go out |
| tu | esci | you go out |
| lui / lei | esce | he / she goes out |
| noi | usciamo | we go out |
| voi | uscite | you go out (plural) |
| loro | escono | they go out |
- A che ora esci stasera? (What time are you going out tonight?)
- Esco dal lavoro alle sei. (I finish work at six.)
25. Abitare – to live, to reside
Abitare indicates a place of residence. Generally followed by the preposition a before a city or in before a country or region. It is a regular first-group verb.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | abito | I live |
| tu | abiti | you live |
| lui / lei | abita | he / she lives |
| noi | abitiamo | we live |
| voi | abitate | you live (plural) |
| loro | abitano | they live |
- Abito a Parigi da tre anni. (I’ve been living in Paris for three years.)
- Dove abiti? (Where do you live?)
26. Finire – to finish
Finire belongs to the -ire verbs with the -isc- suffix, like capire. It expresses the end of an action or situation. Widely used in everyday conversation.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | finisco | I finish |
| tu | finisci | you finish |
| lui / lei | finisce | he / she finishes |
| noi | finiamo | we finish |
| voi | finite | you finish (plural) |
| loro | finiscono | they finish |
- A che ora finisci il lavoro? (What time do you finish work?)
- Il film finisce a mezzanotte. (The film ends at midnight.)
27. Cercare – to look for, to search
Cercare is used to look for an object, a person or information. Note the spelling: before -i, an h is added to keep the hard k sound: cerchi, cerchiamo. It is a regular first-group verb.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | cerco | I look for |
| tu | cerchi | you look for |
| lui / lei | cerca | he / she looks for |
| noi | cerchiamo | we look for |
| voi | cercate | you look for (plural) |
| loro | cercano | they look for |
- Cerco un appartamento in centro. (I’m looking for a flat in the city centre.)
- Cosa cerchi? (What are you looking for?)
28. Tornare – to return, to go back
Tornare indicates a return to a starting point or familiar place. It is conjugated with the auxiliary essere in the past tense. It is a regular first-group verb.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | torno | I return / go back |
| tu | torni | you return / go back |
| lui / lei | torna | he / she returns / goes back |
| noi | torniamo | we return / go back |
| voi | tornate | you return / go back (plural) |
| loro | tornano | they return / go back |
- A che ora torni a casa? (What time are you getting home?)
- Torno subito. (I’ll be right back.)
29. Chiamare – to call
Chiamare is used to call someone (on the phone or out loud) and to name something. The reflexive form chiamarsi is used to introduce oneself: mi chiamo (my name is). It is a regular first-group verb.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | chiamo | I call |
| tu | chiami | you call |
| lui / lei | chiama | he / she calls |
| noi | chiamiamo | we call |
| voi | chiamate | you call (plural) |
| loro | chiamano | they call |
- Mi chiamo Marco. (My name is Marco.)
- Ti chiamo dopo. (I’ll call you later.)
30. Pensare – to think
Pensare expresses a thought, an opinion or the act of thinking about someone. Followed by a to indicate the object of thought (penso a te: I’m thinking of you) or by che to introduce an opinion (penso che: I think that). It is a regular first-group verb.
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| io | penso | I think |
| tu | pensi | you think |
| lui / lei | pensa | he / she thinks |
| noi | pensiamo | we think |
| voi | pensate | you think (plural) |
| loro | pensano | they think |
- Penso a te. (I’m thinking of you.)
- Cosa pensi di questa situazione? (What do you think of this situation?)
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