Latest / Learn Italian with Fexingo / Italian Verb Essere - To Be Basics
Transcript
- Lucas: Ciao Luna, bentornata! Ready for another episode of Learn Italian with Fexingo? Luna: Ciao Lucas! Yes! I've been practicing my possessive adjectives from last time — 'mio', 'tua'... I think I've got them. Lucas: That's great! And today we're going to learn something you can use with every adjective and noun. The verb 'to be'. Luna: Oh, finally! I've been wanting to say 'I am' for ages. Lucas: Perfect. So the Italian for 'to be' is 'essere'. But we'll focus on three very common forms. First: 'io sono' — I am. Luna: Io sono... I am. Can you say it again? Lucas: Sure. 'Io sono'. Repeat after me: io sono. Luna: Io sono. Lucas: Exactly! So if I want to say 'I am Lucas', I say: Io sono Lucas. Luna: Io sono Lucas. And I can say: Io sono Luna. Lucas: Yes! That's it. Now let's try with an adjective we know. Remember 'stanco' from a while back? 'Stanco' means tired. Luna: Oh, right! So 'Io sono stanco' — I am tired. Lucas: Perfect! Now let's move to 'you are' — informal 'you', like with a friend. In Italian, it's 'tu sei'. Luna: Tu sei. That sounds nice. Tu sei. Lucas: Great. So if I want to say 'you are tired', I say: Tu sei stanco. Luna: Tu sei stanco. And if someone is a woman, it's 'stanca', right? Lucas: Yes! So 'Tu sei stanca' for a female. Very good. Now let's do 'he is' and 'she is'. They are the same form: 'lui è' for he, 'lei è' for she. Luna: So 'è' by itself means 'is'? Lui è... lei è... Lucas: Exactly. So 'He is Marco' — Lui è Marco. 'She is Maria' — Lei è Maria. Luna: Got it. Lui è Marco. Lei è Maria. Lucas: And we can add an adjective: 'Lui è stanco' — He is tired. 'Lei è stanca' — She is tired. Luna: Let me practice. Io sono Luna. Tu sei Lucas. Lui è stanco. Lei è stanca. Lucas: Beautiful! Now let's put them in a little conversation. I'll ask: 'Chi sei?' — Who are you? Luna: Io sono Luna. E tu? And you? Lucas: Io sono Lucas. And if I ask 'Chi è lui?' — Who is he? Luna: Lui è Marco? Lucas: Yes! Or 'Lui è il mio amico' — He is my friend. Remember 'mio'? Luna: Lui è il mio amico. That's a full sentence! Lucas: Exactly. Now let's do a quick review. What's 'I am'? Luna: Io sono. Lucas: 'You are'? Luna: Tu sei. Lucas: 'He is' and 'she is'? Luna: Lui è, lei è. Lucas: Wonderful. Now try: 'I am happy' — but happy is 'felice'. Luna: Io sono felice. Lucas: You are happy? Luna: Tu sei felice. Lucas: He is happy? Luna: Lui è felice. Lucas: She is happy? Luna: Lei è felice. Lucas: You nailed it. Let's hear those three forms one more time: io sono, tu sei, lui/lei è. Luna: Io sono, tu sei, lui è, lei è. Lucas: Perfect. Practice these throughout the day. Say 'Io sono...' and add your name, or an emotion like 'stanco' or 'felice'. Luna: I will! Thanks Lucas. This was so useful. Lucas: You're welcome. And remember, you can practice more with Fexingo wherever you get your podcasts. Grazie for listening, and we'll see you next time! Luna: Ciao ciao!