The Verb "Cavarsela"
Moving to a new country brings a mix of excitement and culture shock. To talk about how you manage, navigate difficulties, or "get by," Italians use the highly frequent pronominal verb cavarsela.
This verb is made of three parts: the root verb cavare, the reflexive pronoun si, and the fixed pronoun la.
Conjugating "Cavarsela"
To conjugate cavarsela in the present tense, you must change the reflexive pronoun to match the subject (me, te, se, ce, ve, se), keep the la exactly as it is, and conjugate cavare as a regular -are verb.
| Subject | Pronouns + Verb |
|---|
| io | me la cavo |
| tu | te la cavi |
| lui/lei/Lei | se la cava |
| noi | ce la caviamo |
| voi | ve la cavate |
| loro | se la cavano |
Asking How Someone is Managing
You will frequently hear this verb in questions when someone wants to know how you are handling a new job, a new language, or a different culture.
Using "Cavarsela" in the Infinitive
When you need to use the verb in its unconjugated infinitive form—such as after a preposition like per (for/in order to) or when making general statements—the pronouns stay attached to the end of the word as one single block: cavarsela.
Adapting to a New Culture
Getting by abroad isn't just about managing daily logistics. It also involves reflexive verbs like integrarsi (to integrate) and abituarsi (to get used to) as you navigate a new lifestyle and overcome homesickness.
