Literary Subject Pronouns for People
In modern, everyday Italian, you use lui (he) and lei (she) as subject pronouns. However, when reading classic literature, epic poetry, or highly formal texts, you will encounter the traditional literary pronouns: egli (he) and ella (she).
These specific forms are used exclusively to refer to people.
| I wanted to know if he is the author. | Volevo sapere se egli è l'autore. |
| He is an immortal hero. | Egli è un eroe immortale. |
| She is the maiden of the poem. | Ella è la fanciulla del poema. |
Pronouns for Objects and Concepts
While egli and ella are reserved for people, inanimate objects, abstract concepts, and animals traditionally take esso (masculine "it") and essa (feminine "it").
| The book is ancient; it contains a perfect rhyme. | Il libro è antico; esso contiene una rima perfetta. |
| The legend is famous; it narrates of a long exile. | La leggenda è famosa; essa narra di un lungo esilio. |
The Literary "They"
Instead of the modern loro (they), formal and literary texts use essi for masculine or mixed groups, and esse for entirely feminine groups.
Unlike the singular forms, essi and esse are versatile: they can refer to people, animals, or things.
| They lived many years in exile. | Essi hanno vissuto molti anni in esilio. |
| The maidens sing; they are happy. | Le fanciulle cantano; esse sono felici. |
Summary Table
Here is a quick reference guide comparing modern spoken pronouns with their literary counterparts:
| Modern | Literary | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| lui | egli | he (people) |
| lei | ella | she (people) |
| lui | esso | it (masculine things/animals) |
| lei | essa | it (feminine things/animals) |
| loro | essi | they (masculine/mixed) |
| loro | esse | they (feminine) |