The verb avere (to have) is one of the most important verbs in Italian. It is highly irregular, so you will need to memorize its forms.
Notice that in the forms starting with h, the h is completely silent!
| Pronoun | Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| io | ho | I have |
| tu | hai | you have |
| lui / lei | ha | he / she has |
| noi | abbiamo | we have |
| voi | avete | you have (plural) |
| loro | hanno | they have |
Possession and relationships
Use avere to talk about things you own or relationships you have, just like in English. Remember that subject pronouns (like io or tu) are often dropped.
| I have a problem and a question. | Ho un problema e una domanda. |
| The woman has a son and a daughter. | La donna ha un figlio e una figlia. |
"Having" feelings and states
In English, you say you are hungry, thirsty, afraid, or right. In Italian, you say you have hunger (fame), thirst (sete), fear (paura), or reason (ragione).
| I am very hungry. | Ho molta fame. |
| Are you thirsty? | Hai sete? |
| You are right, the dog is beautiful. | Hai ragione, il cane è bello. |
| We are afraid. | Noi abbiamo paura. |
Plural forms and negatives
Let's see the plural forms (abbiamo, avete, hanno) in action. To make a sentence negative, simply place non right before the verb.
| We have a lot of work today. | Abbiamo molto lavoro oggi. |
| Do you have the keys? | Avete le chiavi? |
| They are not afraid. | Non hanno paura. |
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