Irregular verbs do not follow the standard ‑ARE / ‑ERE / ‑IRE patterns — you have to learn their forms by heart. However, these are the most frequently used verbs in the whole language, so once you know them, you can say almost anything. We start with the “Big Three” — the most important of all.
1. Essere — To be
When to use Essere:
Used for permanent or essential qualities, identity, origin, nationality, profession, description of what something is, and where someone is from.
• Sono inglese → I am English (nationality = permanent)
• Lei è medico → She is a doctor (profession = identity)
• La mela è rossa → The apple is red (essential description)
Used for permanent or essential qualities, identity, origin, nationality, profession, description of what something is, and where someone is from.
• Sono inglese → I am English (nationality = permanent)
• Lei è medico → She is a doctor (profession = identity)
• La mela è rossa → The apple is red (essential description)
| Subject | Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Io | sono | so‑noh | I am |
| Tu | sei | seh‑ee | you are |
| Lui / Lei / Lei (formal) | è | eh | he / she / you is/are |
| Noi | siamo | see‑ah‑moh | we are |
| Voi | siete | see‑eh‑teh | you (all) are |
| Loro | sono | so‑noh | they are |
2. Avere — To have
When to use Avere:
Used for possession, age, physical sensations, and many common expressions (in Italian you “have” hunger, thirst, fear, etc., you do not “be” them).
• Ho una macchina → I have a car (possession)
• Ho vent’anni → I am 20 years old (literally: I have 20 years)
• Ho fame / sete → I am hungry / thirsty (literally: I have hunger / thirst)
Used for possession, age, physical sensations, and many common expressions (in Italian you “have” hunger, thirst, fear, etc., you do not “be” them).
• Ho una macchina → I have a car (possession)
• Ho vent’anni → I am 20 years old (literally: I have 20 years)
• Ho fame / sete → I am hungry / thirsty (literally: I have hunger / thirst)
| Subject | Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Io | ho | oh | I have |
| Tu | hai | ah‑ee | you have |
| Lui / Lei / Lei | ha | ah | he / she / you has/have |
| Noi | abbiamo | ahb‑yah‑moh | we have |
| Voi | avete | ah‑veh‑teh | you (all) have |
| Loro | hanno | ahn‑noh | they have |
3. Stare — To be / stay / feel
✅ Exactly as you remembered!
When to use Stare:
Used for temporary states, conditions, feelings, health, location, and how things are going. It is never used for permanent identity.
• Sto bene / male → I am well / bad (how I feel now = temporary)
• Sto a casa → I am at home (location right now)
• Stiamo attenti → We are being careful (behaviour now)
Quick difference summary:
• Essere = What you ARE (always / usually)
• Stare = How you ARE / where you ARE (right now / for a short time)
When to use Stare:
Used for temporary states, conditions, feelings, health, location, and how things are going. It is never used for permanent identity.
• Sto bene / male → I am well / bad (how I feel now = temporary)
• Sto a casa → I am at home (location right now)
• Stiamo attenti → We are being careful (behaviour now)
Quick difference summary:
• Essere = What you ARE (always / usually)
• Stare = How you ARE / where you ARE (right now / for a short time)
| Subject | Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Io | sto | stoh | I am / stay / feel |
| Tu | stai | stah‑ee | you are / stay / feel |
| Lui / Lei / Lei | sta | stah | he / she / you is/stays/feels |
| Noi | stiamo | stee‑ah‑moh | we are / stay / feel |
| Voi | state | stah‑teh | you (all) are / stay / feel |
| Loro | stanno | stahn‑noh | they are / stay / feel |
The 10 Most Useful Other Irregular Verbs
These are the next most common irregular verbs — learn these and you will cover almost everything you need in conversation.
| Verb (Meaning) | Io | Tu | Lui/Lei | Noi | Voi | Loro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andare (to go) |
vado | vai | va | andiamo | andate | vanno |
| Venire (to come) |
vengo | vieni | viene | veniamo | venite | vengono |
| Dire (to say / tell) |
dico | dici | dice | diciamo | dite | dicono |
| Fare (to do / make) |
faccio | fai | fa | facciamo | fate | fanno |
| Dare (to give) |
do | dai | dà | diamo | date | danno |
| Stare (to be/stay — see above) |
sto | stai | sta | stiamo | state | stanno |
| Potere (can / to be able) |
posso | puoi | può | possiamo | potete | possono |
| Volere (to want / will) |
voglio | vuoi | vuole | vogliamo | volete | vogliono |
| Dovere (must / to have to / to owe) |
devo | devi | deve | dobbiamo | dovete | devono |
| Sapere (to know facts/info) |
so | sai | sa | sappiamo | sapete | sanno |
| Uscire (to go out / leave) |
esco | esci | esce | usciamo | uscite | escono |
💡 Quick tip:
The last three (Potere, Volere, Dovere) are called modal verbs — they are always used together with another verb (e.g. Posso andare = I can go / Devo partire = I must leave).
The last three (Potere, Volere, Dovere) are called modal verbs — they are always used together with another verb (e.g. Posso andare = I can go / Devo partire = I must leave).