Personal pronouns, also called subject pronouns, are used to indicate who is performing the action in a sentence. Here's the list of Italian subject pronouns:
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| io | I |
| tu | you informal, singular |
| lui | he |
| lei | she |
| noi | we |
| voi | you plural |
| loro | they |
In Italian, there are different ways to say you depending on how many people you're addressing. This distinction is important for proper communication and grammar. Here's how to use tu and voi correctly:
Tu = you singular when speaking to one person
Voi = you plural when speaking to a group of people
In Italian, subject pronouns are usually left out, especially in conversation. This is because the verb endings already indicate who the subject is.
Io parlo italiano.
I speak Italian.
Parlo italiano.
I speak Italian.
Tu leggi un libro.
You read a book.
Leggi un libro.
You read a book.
Lei va al mare.
She goes to the beach.
Va al mare.
She goes to the beach.
Both versions are grammatically correct, but the second without the pronoun is more common in everyday use.
Italian does not have a direct equivalent of the English pronoun it. Instead, you simply use the verb or expression on its own, and the meaning is clear from context.
Piove.
It’s raining.
Fa caldo fuori.
It’s hot outside.
È tardi.
It’s late.
Italian has a formal version of you, which is Lei. Capital L is often used to distinguish it from lei = she.
Use Lei when:
Speaking to strangers
Talking to your boss
Addressing elders or people in formal settings
Use tu when:
Speaking to friends
Talking to family
Interacting informally
Tu sei stanco, Paolo?
Are you tired, Paolo?
Lei è stanco, signor Rossi?
Are you tired, Mr. Rossi? (formal)
Tu sei italiano? No, sono inglese.
Are you Italian? — No, I’m English.
Lei è italiana? No, sono inglese.
Are you Italian? No, I’m English. (formal, speaking to a woman)
You might encounter these old-fashioned pronouns in literature or period films, but they are rarely used today in everyday speech or writing:
| Pronoun | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| egli | he | literary, replaced by lui |
| ella | she | literary, replaced by lei |
| esso | it masculine | very rare |
| essa | it feminine | very rare |
| essi | they masculine | literary |
| esse | they feminine | literary |
In the past, voi was used as a formal singular you, like vous in French, especially during certain historical periods. Today, this usage is archaic and mostly seen in literature or old films.
