Io parlo con me stesso.

I talk with myself.

Breakdown of Io parlo con me stesso.

• io: I
• con: with
• parlare: to talk
• me stesso: myself

Questions & Answers about Io parlo con me stesso.

Why is the subject pronoun Io included in the sentence even though the verb parlo already indicates the subject?

In Italian the verb ending often makes the subject clear, so using Io is optional. However, including it can add emphasis or clarity, especially if you want to stress that it’s you who is speaking.

Why do we say con me stesso instead of using a simple reflexive pronoun like mi?

When a pronoun follows a preposition such as con (“with”), Italian requires the stressed (or disjunctive) form. Therefore, me is used instead of mi. The adjective stesso is added for emphasis, effectively meaning “with myself.”

How does the adjective stesso agree with the subject, and what would change if a female speaker were expressing the same idea?

In Italian adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since stesso modifies the pronoun referring to Io, it takes a masculine form if the speaker is male (me stesso). If the speaker were female, it would become me stessa.

Why is the preposition con used with the verb parlare in this sentence?

The preposition con is used when indicating that one is speaking “with” someone. In this sentence, con me stesso literally means “with myself,” which expresses that you are engaging in a conversation with your own self.

Is there an alternative way to express the idea of talking to oneself in Italian?

Yes, you might also hear parlare da solo, which translates to “talk alone.” However, parlare da solo emphasizes being alone rather than the idea of engaging in a conversation with oneself. Io parlo con me stesso clearly conveys the reflexive sense of talking with yourself.