How to Master Italian Pronouns

On the surface level, Italian pronouns are very similar to English ones. However, things get a little more complicated once you dive into the details. For one, there are several different types of personal pronouns that can be used, each of which depends on the gender and number of the object being replaced. Still, pronouns are essential for Italian fluency, so if you want to speak Italian, you need to learn them. To help you differentiate between mia and gli, we've put together a comprehensive guide for beginners to learn all of the many Italian pronouns.

How Are Italian Pronouns Used?

Italian pronouns are used to replace nouns within a sentence so things don't get too repetitive. In English, pronouns are words like "she," "him," or "yours." In Italian grammar, things are a bit more confusing as most pronouns will need to agree with the noun's gender and number.

This means there are several more alternatives to the traditional "mine" or "yours." There are also several different types of pronouns in Italian, each of which is used to replace different parts of the sentence.

Different Types of Italian Pronouns with Examples

There are six different types of Italian pronouns used in everyday language. We've compiled the ultimate guide below to help you correctly use Italian pronouns. 

1. Subject Pronouns

Italian subject pronouns replace the subject of the sentence. However, when you use Italian with natives, you'll find that they often drop the subject pronouns entirely. This is because Italian verb conjugation will tell you who the subject is, so having the pronoun is a bit redundant.

Still, it's important to recognize each, as they can still be used for clarification. Plus, subject pronouns are the building blogs of everyday Italians and are a good starting point for new learners. As a rule of thumb, anytime the word anche (also) is used, you must include the subject pronoun in the sentence.

Don't forget that Italians have a second, formal way of saying "you," which is the same as the pronoun for "she." You should be able to tell the difference in a sentence, as the formal version will often be quite obvious based on the rest of the conversation. In the chart below, you can see all of the subject pronouns in Italian.

Here are some examples of sentences without omitting the subject pronouns. The subject pronouns are around parenthesis when they can be omitted.

• (Io) ho mangiato una pizza deliziosa ieri sera. — I ate a delicious pizza last night.
• (Tu) sei molto bravo a suonare la chitarra. — You are very good at playing the guitar.
• (Lei) parla tre lingue fluentemente. — She speaks three languages fluently.
• (Loro) stanno studiando per l'esame di domani. — They are studying for tomorrow's exam.
• Questa estate (io) andrò in vacanza in Italia. — This summer I will go on vacation in Italy.

2. Direct Object Pronouns

Italian direct object pronouns replace the direct object of the sentence, which is the object that receives the action of the verb. The direct object usually answers the question, "What?" or "Who?" and doesn't have a preposition in front of it. 

In English, direct object pronouns come after the verb, but in most Italian sentences, direct object pronouns will come before the verb. However, direct object pronouns can also be attached to the end of an infinitive, imperative, or gerundive verb.

There are both weak and strong direct object pronouns in Italian. The weak form is used most often, whereas the strong form is primarily used to add emphasis to the direct object or for stylistic reasons. You can see both types of direct object pronouns in the chart below.

Consider some of the following examples to help you see how direct object pronouns are used in everyday Italian.

• La vedo tutti i giorni al parco. — I see her every day at the park.
• Lo conosco da molti anni. — I have known him for many years.
• Li ho comprati ieri al supermercato. — I bought them yesterday at the supermarket.
• La mangeremo per cena. — We will eat it for dinner.
• Non ti ho sentito al telefono. — I didn't hear you on the phone.

3. Indirect Object Pronouns

Italian indirect object pronouns are used to replace the object in a sentence as well, but these answer the question, "To whom?" or "To what?"

Like direct object pronouns, most indirect object pronouns will come before the verb. However, the indirect object pronoun "loro" is a special case and always comes after the verb. You can see all of the indirect pronouns in the chart below.

Direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns can get a little confusing for many new learners. To help you master both and build your fluency in Italian, download Tandem and match with a native speaker today. In the meantime, check out some examples that use indirect object pronouns in Italian.

• Gli ho dato il libro ieri. — I gave him the book yesterday.
• Le scrivo una lettera ogni settimana. — I write her a letter every week.
• Ci hanno raccontato una bella storia. — They told us a nice story.
• Ti comprerò un regalo. — I will buy you a gift.
• Vi manderò un'email domani. — I will send you all an email tomorrow.

4. Possessive Pronouns

As you may have guessed, possessive pronouns in Italian are used to show possession. However, unlike in English, possessive pronouns in Itlain need to agree with both gender and number. This can get a little confusing, as they look exactly the same as possessive Italian adjectives. The best way to remember the difference is that Italian possessive adjectives will modify the noun while pronouns replace it.

You can see all the different Italian possessive pronouns in the chart below.

Read through some examples below to help you use possessive pronouns in common Italian conversation.

• Questo libro è mio. — This book is mine.
• La macchina rossa è la tua. — The red car is yours.
• I gatti sono suoi. — The cats are his/hers.
• Questi sono i nostri posti. — These are our seats.
• Le chiavi sono le loro. — The keys are theirs.

5. Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns in Italian are paired with reflexive verbs and are used when the object "reflects" back onto the subject. These are similar to how "myself" or "ourselves" are used in English, except they go before the verb (in most situations). Like direct and indirect pronouns, they'll be placed after verbs if they're in their infinitive form. You can see all of the Italian reflexive pronouns in the chart below.

See the examples below to see how reflexive pronouns are used in a sentence.

• Mi sveglio alle sette ogni mattina. — I wake up at seven every morning.
• Ti lavi le mani prima di mangiare. — You wash your hands before eating.
• Si veste in fretta per andare al lavoro. — He/She dresses quickly to go to work.
• Ci divertiamo molto alla festa. — We have a lot of fun at the party.
• Si incontrano al parco ogni domenica. — They meet at the park every Sunday.

6. Relative Pronouns

Italian relative pronouns are sure to connect two clauses or sentences. They have similar functions to how "that" works in English between two sentences and can also be used with prepositions. There are two types of relative pronouns in Italian: invariable relative pronouns and variable relative pronouns.

Invariable relative pronouns don't change regardless of gender or number. These include the following:

Che — which/who/that — This replaces a subject or direct object of the relative clause.

• Il libro che ho letto è interessante. — The book that I read is interesting.
• La ragazza che parla è mia sorella. — The girl who is speaking is my sister.

Cui — whom/which — This works when the pronoun is the object of a preposition in a sentence.

• La città in cui vivo è molto bella. — The city in which I live is very beautiful.
• Il ragazzo di cui ti ho parlato è qui. — The boy whom I told you about is here.

Chi — who — This is only used in specific contexts when referring to people in a general or indefinite sense.

• Chi arriva primo vince il premio. — Whoever arrives first wins the prize.
• Chi non lavora non mangia. — He who does not work does not eat.

Variable pronouns in Italian have the same function as invariable, but they change based on the gender and number of a noun. Variable pronouns are often used to avoid ambiguity (when something isn't so clear in the sentence). Variable Italian pronouns are also considered a bit more formal. You can see the four options in the chart below.

Some examples of using variable relative pronouns in a sentence include:

• Il ragazzo al quale ho dato il libro è mio amico. — The boy to whom I gave the book is my friend.
• La donna la quale ha vinto il premio è famosa. — The woman who won the prize is famous.
• L'uomo il quale lavora con me è gentile. — The man who works with me is kind.

Learning Italian: Ways to Help You Master Italian Pronouns in Everyday Conversation

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