The 20 Most Important Italian Verbs Ending in -IRE

Italian verbs can be categorised as being -are, -ere, or -ire verbs. We’ve already discussed the -are verbs here and -ere verbs here. Now the time has come to talk about the third and final type category of Italian verbs: “third conjugation” -ire verbs.

How to conjugate IRE verbs in Italian

Much like the other two categories of Italian verbs, you need to drop the final -ire sound from the verbs in order to conjugate them, and replace it with the correct suffix.

-o
First-person singular (I)

-i
Second-person singular informal (you)

-e
Third-person singular (he/she/it)
Second-personal formal (you)

-iamo
First-person plural (we)

-ite
Second-person plural (you all)

-ono
Third-person plural (they)

For example, if we consider the verb dormire (to sleep), we would conjugate it as:

io dormo = I sleep
tu dormi = you sleep (informal)
lui / lei dorme = he/she sleeps
Lei dorme = you sleep (formal)
noi dormiamo = we sleep
voi dormite = you sleep (plural)
loro dormono = they sleep

Of course, like –are and –ere, there are exceptions to this rule. Actually, there are many exceptions to this rule. One particular irregularity that is extremely common in –ire verbs is called the “-isc- rule”.

Following this rule, “-isc” is added before the ending, except for “noi” (we) and “voi” (you plural).

-isco
First-person singular (I)

-isci
Second-person singular informal (you)

-isce
Third-person singular (he/she/it)
Second-personal formal (you)

-iamo
First-person plural (we)

-ite
Second-person plural (you all)

-iscono
Third-person plural (they)

For example, the verb patire (to suffer) should be conjugated as follows:

io patisco = I suffer
tu patisci = you suffer (informal)
lui / lei patisce = he/she suffers
Lei patisce = you suffer (formal)
noi patiamo = we suffer
voi patite = you suffer (plural)
loro patiscono = they suffer

With the understanding of the basic rules of conjugating a third category –ire verb in Italian, let’s take a look at the 20 most important verbs that you will find yourself using the most frequently.

1. Sentire

English meaning: to hear / to feel / to smell

(io) sento = I hear
(tu) senti = you hear (informal)
(lui) sente = he hears
(lei) sente = she hears
(Lei) sente = you hear (formal)
(noi) sentiamo = we hear
(voi) sentite = you hear (plural)
(loro) sentono = they hear

Non mi sento molto bene oggi.

I don’t feel very well today.

Businessman talking over mobile phone's speaker and holding finger in his ear while commuting by public transport during rush hour. — ***Non ti sento!*** = *I can’t hear you!*

2. Dire (irregular)

English meaning: to say / to tell

(io) dico = I say
(tu) dici = you say (informal)
(lui) dice = he says
(lei) dice = she says
(Lei) dice = you say (formal)
(noi) diciamo = we say
(voi) dite = you say (plural)
(loro) dicono = they say

Lui dice che le torte sono molto buone.

He says that the cakes are very good.

IMPORTANT: The verb dire is actually classified as a second conjugation verb rather than a third conjugation verb, as it originates from the Latin verb dicere. Indeed, all the forms, except voi, maintain the original c of the Latin infinitive verb.

Portrait of a young man taking off his headphones to hear what the other person said. — ***Cos’hai detto?*** = *What did you say?*

3. Venire (irregular)

English meaning: to come

(io) vengo = I come
(tu) vieni = you come (informal)
(lui) viene = he comes
(lei) viene = she comes
(Lei) viene = you come (formal)
(noi) veniamo = we come
(voi) venite = you come (plural)
(loro) vengono = they come

Vuoi venire a casa mia?

Do you want to come to my house?

NOTE: Venire is irregular. Notice the presence of a “g” in the io and loro forms. Also notice that second and third person singular forms have an additional vowel sound – i – before the e.

Happy mature Asian woman inviting you to enter her house — **Vieni dentro.** = *Come inside.*

4. Aprire

English meaning: to open

(io) apro = I open
(tu) apri = you open (informal)
(lui) apre = he opens
(lei) apre = she opens
(Lei) apre = you open (formal)
(noi) apriamo = we open
(voi) aprite = you open (plural)
(loro) aprono = they open

Puoi aprire la finestra per favore?

Can you open the window, please?

Male hand closes a white painted wooden door with frosted glass in a country house. — **Apro la porta.** = *I open the door.*

5. Vestire (vestirsi)

English meaning: to dress / to dress up / to get dressed

(io) vesto = I dress
(tu) vesti = you dress (informal)
(lui) veste = he dresses
(lei) veste = she dresses
(Lei) veste = you dress (formal)
(noi) vestiamo = we dress
(voi) vestite = you dress (plural)
(loro) vestono = they dress

Ora ti vesto, vieni qua.

Now I’ll dress you, come here.

NOTE: Vestire is frequently used as a reflexive verb – vestirsi (to get dressed / to dress oneself).

(io) mi vesto = I get dressed
(tu) ti vesti = you get dressed (informal)
(lui) si veste = he gets dressed
(lei) si veste = she gets dressed
(Lei) si veste = you get dressed (formal)
(noi) ci vestiamo = we get dressed
(voi) vi vestite = you get dressed (plural)
(loro) si vestono = they get dressed

Father helping little son to get dressed — ***Ti aiuto a vestirti.*** = *I’ll help you get dressed.*

6. Uscire (irregular)

English meaning: to exit, to go out

(io) esco = I exit
(tu) esci = you exit (informal)
(lui) esce = he exits
(lei) esce = she exits
(Lei) esce = you exit (formal)
(noi) usciamo = we exit
(voi) uscite = you exit (plural)
(loro) escono = they exit

Dobbiamo uscire alle 8:30.

We must go out at 8:30 a.m.

NOTE: Uscire is unique because the initial vowel u is replaced by an e in all conjugations except the noi and voi forms. Remember that –sc– followed by an e or an i is pronounced with a “sh” sound.

Shot of a little girl standing in the corner at home — **Non voglio uscire…** = *I don’t want to go out…*

7. Partire

English meaning: to leave

(io) parto = I leave
(tu) parti = you leave (informal)
(lui) parte = he leaves
(lei) parte = she leaves
(Lei) parte = you leave (formal)
(noi) partiamo = we leave
(voi) partite = you leave (plural)
(loro) partono = they leave

Quando partono i ragazzi?

When do the boys leave?

boy waving goodbye to his mum in the car — ***Sta per partire.*** = *She’s about to leave.*

8. Capire (-isc verb)

English meaning: to understand

(io) capisco = I understand
(tu) capisci = you understand (informal)
(lui) capisce = he understands
(lei) capisce = she understands
(Lei) capisce = you understand (formal)
(noi) capiamo = we understand
(voi) capite = you understand (plural)
(loro) capiscono = they understand

Tu capisci l’inglese meglio di lui.

You understand English better than him.

Note: Capire follows the –isc– rule. Nearly all conjugations are modified to include –isc– in the suffix, except in the noi and voi forms. The letters –isc are added to the beginning of the ending, as in -isco, -isci, -isce, and -iscono.

Woman shouts at her husband, while the man listens, covering his face with his hands. — ***Non capisci niente!*** = *You don’t understand anything!*

9. Pulire (-isc verb)

English meaning: to clean / to wash

(io) pulisco = I clean
(tu) pulisci = you clean (informal)
(lui) pulisce = he cleans
(lei) pulisce = she cleans
(Lei) pulisce = you clean (formal)
(noi) puliamo = we clean
(voi) pulite = you clean (plural)
(loro) puliscono = they clean

I ragazzi puliscono la casa dopo la festa.

The teenagers clean the house after the party.

girl with dirty fingers — **Devo pulirmi le dita!** = *I have to wash my fingers!*

10. Seguire

English meaning: to follow

(io) seguo = I follow
(tu) segui = you follow (informal)
(lui) segue = he follows
(lei) segue = she follows
(Lei) segue = you follow (formal)
(noi) seguiamo = we follow
(voi) seguite = you follow (plural)
(loro) seguono = they follow

Vai avanti tu che io ti seguo.

You go ahead and I’ll follow you.

Young woman runs holding her boyfriend by the hand. — **Seguimi!** = *Follow me!*

11. Morire (irregular)

English meaning: to die

(io) muoio = I die
(tu) muori = you die (informal)
(lui) muore = he dies
(lei) muore = she dies
(Lei) muore = you die (formal)
(noi) moriamo = we die
(voi) morite = you die (plural)
(loro) muoiono = they die

I fiori muoiono in inverno.

Flowers die in the winter.

Dead trees in Lake Bonney, South Australia — **Gli alberi stanno morendo.** = *The trees are dying.*

12. Preferire (-isc verb)

English meaning: to prefer

(io) preferisco = I prefer
(tu) preferisci = you prefer (informal)
(lui) preferisce = he prefers
(lei) preferisce = she prefers
(Lei) preferisce = you prefer (formal)
(noi) preferiamo = we prefer
(voi) preferite = you prefer (plural)
(loro) preferiscono = they prefer

Preferisco le mele alle banane.

I prefer apples to bananas.

two people talking on a bridge — **Cosa preferiresti fare?** = *What would you prefer to do?*

13. Finire (-isc verb)

English meaning: to finish

(io) finisco = I finish
(tu) finisci = you finish (informal)
(lui) finisce = he finishes
(lei) finisce = she finishes
(Lei) finisce = you finish (formal)
(noi) finiamo = we finish
(voi) finite = you finish (plural)
(loro) finiscono = they finish

Andrai a letto quando finisce il film?

Will you go to bed when the film finishes?

italian word for book — **Voglio finire il libro.** = *I want to finish the book.*

14. Salire (irregular)

English meaning: to get on / get in / climb up / increase

(io) salgo = I get on
(tu) sali = you get on (informal)
(lui) sale = he gets on
(lei) sale = she gets on
(Lei) sale = you get on (formal)
(noi) saliamo = we get on
(voi) salite = you get on (plural)
(loro) salgono = they get on

Dobbiamo salire sul treno prima della partenza.

We must get on the train before it departs.

NOTE: Salire is irregular in the io and loro forms – marked by the presence of a g.

Young couple with many shopping bags walking up the stairs. — **Saliamo le scale.** = *Let’s go up the stairs.*

15. Mentire

English meaning: to lie (tell a falsehood)

(io) mento = I lie
(tu) menti = you lie (informal)
(lui) mente = he lies
(lei) mente = she lies
(Lei) mente = you lie (formal)
(noi) mentiamo = we lie
(voi) mentite = you lie (plural)
(loro) mentono = they lie

Il bambino ha mentito a sua madre.

The child lied to his mother.

Woman with fingers behind her back — **So che mi stai mentendo.** = *I know you’re lying to me.*

16. Offrire

English meaning: to offer / to treat / to make an offer

(io) offro = I offer
(tu) offri = you offer (informal)
(lui) offre = he offers
(lei) offre = she offers
(Lei) offre = you offer (formal)
(noi) offriamo = we offer
(voi) offrite = you offer (plural)
(loro) offrono = they offer

Non ho niente da offrire.

I have nothing to offer.

NOTE: When offrire appears in its reflexive form offrirsi, it means “to offer (one’s help or assistance)”.

Group Of Young Friends Enjoying Meal In Restaurant — **Offro io.** = *It’s my treat.*

17. Spedire (-isc verb)

English meaning: to ship / to send by mail

(io) spedisco = I ship
(tu) spedisci = you ship (informal)
(lui) spedisce = he ships
(lei) spedisce = she ships
(Lei) spedisce = you ship (formal)
(noi) spediamo = we ship
(voi) spedite = you ship (plural)
(loro) spediscono = they ship

Ti ho spedito un pacco.

I sent you a package.

Little girl sending letter to Santa Claus — ***La bambina vuole spedire la letterina a Babbo Natale.*** = *The girl wants to send her letter to Santa Claus.*

18. Coprire

English meaning: to cover

(io) copro = I cover
(tu) copri = you cover (informal)
(lui) copre = he covers
(lei) copre = she covers
(Lei) copre = you cover (formal)
(noi) copriamo = we cover
(voi) coprite = you cover (plural)
(loro) coprono = they cover

Ti copro con la coperta.

I’ll cover you with the blanket.

Gourmet Chocolate Covered Strawberries for Valentine's Day — **Ho coperto le fragole di cioccolato.** = *I covered the strawberries in chocolate.*

19. Servire

English meaning: to be of service / to serve / to need (see explanation below)

(io) servo = I serve
(tu) servi = you serve (informal)
(lui) serve = he serves
(lei) serve = she serves
(Lei) serve = you serve (formal)
(noi) serviamo = we serve
(voi) servite = you serve (plural)
(loro) servono = they serve

NOTE: In Italian, you can convey needs and necessities using the verb servire. Much like the verb piacere (to like), it is employed with an indirect object, akin to saying “it serves me / you / him / etc..”

Ti servono i libri?

Do you need the books?
(Literally: Do the books serve you?)

Photo of young woman with sincere emotions wearing stylish yellow jacket. — **No, non mi serve.** = *No, I don’t need it.*

20. Bollire

English meaning: to boil

(io) bollo = I boil
(tu) bolli = you boil (informal)
(lui) bolle = he boils
(lei) bolle = she boils
(Lei) bolle = you boil (formal)
(noi) bolliamo = we boil
(voi) bollite = you boil (plural)
(loro) bollono = they boil

Bolliamo l’acqua per la pasta.

We boil the water for the pasta.

kettle of boiling water on electric induction hob on wooden kitchen table — **Guarda, l’acqua sta bollendo.** = *Look, the water is boiling.*

most important italian verbs ending in ire

Heather Broster

Heather Broster is a graduate with honours in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, proficient in English and Italian, as well as Japanese, Welsh, and French to varying degrees of fluency. Originally from Toronto, Heather has resided in various countries, notably Italy for a period of six years. Her primary focus lies in the fields of language acquisition, education, and bilingual instruction.