Italian verb conjugation can look scary at first, but it’s far more predictable than it seems. Once you learn the core patterns, many verbs become much easier to read, understand, and use.
This guide walks you through what “conjugation” means, the three main verb groups, and the present tense endings for regular verbs—step by step.
What Is “Conjugation”?
To conjugate a verb means changing its ending to match the subject (who is doing the action).
In English, this change is small:
- I speak
- she speaks
In Italian, the verb ending changes for every subject, not just “he/she/it.”
The good news: because Italian verb endings clearly show who the subject is, Italian often drops the subject pronoun.
For example:
- Parlo = (I) speak
- Parli = (you) speak
- Parla = (he/she) speaks
Often, there’s no need to say io, tu, lui, or lei—the verb ending already tells you.
The Three Main Verb Groups
Most Italian verbs fall into one of three groups based on their infinitive ending:
- -are (parlare – to speak)
- -ere (credere – to believe)
- -ire (dormire – to sleep)
These infinitive endings tell you which set of conjugation endings the verb will use.
Present Tense Endings (Regular Verbs)
We’ll start with the present tense, which can translate as:
- “I speak”
- “I am speaking”
- “I do speak”
Italian doesn’t always separate these the way English does. Context usually makes the meaning clear.
-ARE Verbs (Example: parlare — “to speak”)
Step 1: Remove -are → parl-
Step 2: Add the present tense endings:
| Subject | Ending | Result |
|---|---|---|
| io | -o | parlo |
| tu | -i | parli |
| lui / lei | -a | parla |
| noi | -iamo | parliamo |
| voi | -ate | parlate |
| loro | -ano | parlano |
Once you memorize these endings, you can apply them to many regular -are verbs.
-ERE Verbs (Example: credere — “to believe”)
Step 1: Remove -ere → cred-
Step 2: Add the present tense endings:
| Subject | Ending | Result |
|---|---|---|
| io | -o | credo |
| tu | -i | credi |
| lui / lei | -e | crede |
| noi | -iamo | crediamo |
| voi | -ete | credete |
| loro | -ono | credono |
-IRE Verbs (Example: dormire — “to sleep”)
Step 1: Remove -ire → dorm-
Step 2: Add the present tense endings:
| Subject | Ending | Result |
|---|---|---|
| io | -o | dormo |
| tu | -i | dormi |
| lui / lei | -e | dorme |
| noi | -iamo | dormiamo |
| voi | -ite | dormite |
| loro | -ono | dormono |
Note: -ISC- Verbs
Some -ire verbs insert -isc- in the present tense for:
- io, tu, lui/lei, loro
Example: finire (to finish)
- finisco
- finisci
- finisce
- finiamo
- finite
- finiscono
You don’t need to master this immediately, but it’s helpful to know it exists.
Subject Pronouns (Quick Overview)
Here are the basic subject pronouns you’ll see:
- io – I
- tu – you (informal)
- lui / lei – he / she
- noi – we
- voi – you all (plural)
- loro – they
Remember: Italians often omit these pronouns because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.
A Quick Example in Context
Rather than memorizing endings only as lists, it helps to see them inside real sentences:
- Mangio a casa. (I eat at home.)
- Beviamo caffè. (We drink coffee.)
- Dormono presto. (They sleep early.)
- Parli italiano? (Do you speak Italian?)
Even if you don’t say “io/noi/loro,” the verb form still makes the meaning clear.
What to Focus On as a Beginner
Don’t try to learn everything at once. In the early stages of learning Italian, focus on:
- Mastering the present tense first
- Learning one verb group at a time
- Practicing with common regular verbs you actually use
Irregular verbs do exist, but they’re much easier to handle once regular patterns feel familiar.
Conclusion
Verb conjugation is one of the first things that can make Italian feel intimidating. But in reality, Italian conjugation is less about memorizing endless lists and more about recognizing patterns.
Learn the three verb groups, practice the present tense endings, and pay attention to verbs in real sentences. Over time, you’ll start recognizing forms automatically—and that’s when Italian begins to feel fun and natural.
