Learn Hardcore Italian: Bisogna amare se stessi.

Bisogna is an impersonal verb form meaning "it is necessary" or "one must." It is used without an explicit subject to express a general necessity or obligation.

How is amare se stessi translated into English?

Amare means "to love," and se stessi means "oneself" (used reflexively). Together, bisogna amare se stessi translates to "one must love oneself."

Why does the sentence not include an explicit subject?

Italian often employs impersonal constructions with verbs like bisogna, where the subject is implied to be a general or indefinite "one" or "people in general." This allows the sentence to express a universal truth without specifying who exactly must perform the action.

What is the function of se stessi in this sentence?

Se stessi is a reflexive pronoun phrase that refers back to the subject (which is implied by the impersonal verb bisogna). It indicates that the action of loving is directed at the subject itself, emphasizing the idea of self-love.

Why is stessi in the masculine plural form rather than a singular form like stesso?

In impersonal or general statements, Italian often uses the masculine plural form as a neutral, inclusive way to refer to an indefinite subject. Even though the idea targets an individual’s self-love, the plural form is standard in such constructions to encompass a universal concept.