essere — Used as a copula. to be; Denotes absolute time.
essere is the #6 most common word in Italian, a verb. It means “Used as a copula. to be; Denotes absolute time.” and is pronounced /ˈɛs.se.re/.
#6frequency rank
1.75%of everyday Italian text
Level 1Beginner 1
Forms of essere
| Form | What it is | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| èssere | dictionary form | to be |
| sóno | I · present | I am |
| fùi | I · past | I was |
| stàto | past participle | been |
| èro | I · imperfect | I used to be |
| sarò | I · future | I will be |
| sìa | I · subjunctive | |
| fóssi | I · subjunctive imperfect | (if) I were |
| sìi | you · command | be! |
| èssere | auxiliary verb | |
| èssere | infinitive | to be |
| essèndo | -ing form | being |
| sèi | you · present | you are |
| è | he/she · present | he/she is |
| siàmo | we · present | we are |
| siéte | you (pl.) · present | you (pl.) are |
| siète | you (pl.) · present | you (pl.) are |
| sóno | they · present | they are |
| èri | you · imperfect | you used to be |
| èra | he/she · imperfect | he/she used to be |
| eravàmo | we · imperfect | we used to be |
| eravàte | you (pl.) · imperfect | you (pl.) used to be |
| èrano | they · imperfect | they used to be |
| fósti | you · past | you were |
| fù | he/she · past | he/she was |
| fùmmo | we · past | we were |
| fóste | you (pl.) · past | you (pl.) were |
| fùrono | they · past | they were |
| sarài | you · future | you will be |
| sarà | he/she · future | he/she will be |
| sarémo | we · future | we will be |
| saréte | you (pl.) · future | you (pl.) will be |
| sarànno | they · future | they will be |
| sarèi | I · conditional | I would be |
| sarésti | you · conditional | you would be |
| sarèbbe | he/she · conditional | he/she would be |
| sarébbe | he/she · conditional | he/she would be |
| sarémmo | we · conditional | we would be |
| saréste | you (pl.) · conditional | you (pl.) would be |
| sarèbbero | they · conditional | they would be |
| sarébbero | they · conditional | they would be |
| sìa | I · subjunctive present | (that) I be |
| sìa | you · subjunctive present | (that) you be |
| sìa | he/she · subjunctive present | (that) he/she be |
| siàmo | we · subjunctive present | (that) we be |
| siàte | you (pl.) · subjunctive present | (that) you (pl.) be |
| sìano | they · subjunctive present | (that) they be |
| fóssi | you · subjunctive imperfect | (if) you were |