Italian grammar · Intermediate
Italian Imperative
The Italian imperative (imperativo) is the verb form for orders, instructions, advice, and invitations: parla, speak; venite, come; andiamo, let's go. Unlike English, which has one command form for everyone, Italian has separate forms for tu, Lei, noi, and voi, and the negative tu form uses the infinitive.
Chiudi la porta, per favore.
Close the door, please.
What it is
English says speak to anyone, in any situation. Italian chooses the form by who you are talking to. Tu (one friend) gets parla; voi (a group) gets parlate; Lei (one person, formally) gets parli; noi (let's) gets parliamo. The noi and voi forms are the same as the present tense, so the forms to learn are mainly tu and Lei.
Aspetta! (Wait, to a friend.) Aspetti! (Wait, formal.) Aspettate! (Wait, to a group.) Aspettiamo. (Let's wait.)
How to spot it
For tu, -ARE verbs end in -a (parla, guarda) and -ERE and -IRE verbs end in -i (prendi, dormi). For Lei, the vowels swap: -ARE verbs end in -i (parli) and the others in -a (prenda, dorma).
- Guarda! (Look! (tu))
- Prendi un ombrello. (Take an umbrella. (tu))
- Senta, scusi. (Excuse me. (Lei; literally: listen, sorry))
- Dormite bene. (Sleep well. (voi))
The Lei imperative is borrowed from the present subjunctive, which is why its vowels are the opposite of the tu form.
Imperative Quick Reference
The regular Italian imperative, affirmative and negative
| Person | parlare (-ARE) | prendere (-ERE) | dormire (-IRE) | Negative (parlare) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tu | parla | prendi | dormi | non parlare |
| Lei | parli | prenda | dorma | non parli |
| noi | parliamo | prendiamo | dormiamo | non parliamo |
| voi | parlate | prendete | dormite | non parlate |
Common Imperative Examples in Italian
The Italian imperative in real sentences:
Everyday Instructions (tu)
- Aspetta un attimo.
- Wait a moment.
- Non toccare il forno, è caldo.
- Don't touch the oven, it's hot.
The negative tu form is non plus the infinitive: non toccare, non parlare.
Formal Requests (Lei)
- Prego, si accomodi.
- Please, have a seat.
- Prenda la seconda strada a destra.
- Take the second street on the right.
- Mi dica.
- Go ahead. / How can I help you?
Shop assistants, waiters, and strangers giving directions will use these forms with you.
Groups and Suggestions (voi, noi)
- Ragazzi, venite a tavola.
- Kids, come to the table.
- Andiamo al cinema stasera.
- Let's go to the cinema tonight.
The noi form is how Italian says let's.
With Pronouns
- Dimmi la verità.
- Tell me the truth.
- Fallo subito.
- Do it right away.
- Non dirlo a nessuno.
- Don't tell anyone.
Pronouns attach to the end of tu, noi, and voi commands. After short forms like di' and fa', the consonant doubles: dimmi, fallo.
How the Italian Imperative Is Built
Four persons, one rule for the negative, and a fixed place for pronouns.
Tu: -a for -ARE, -i for -ERE and -IRE
The tu imperative of -ARE verbs is the lui / lei form of the present (parla). For -ERE and -IRE verbs it is the tu form of the present (prendi, dormi). Verbs with -isc- keep it: finisci, pulisci.
Mangia la verdura.
Eat your vegetables.
parlare → parla; prendere → prendi.
Noi and Voi Are the Present Tense
For noi and voi, use the present tense without a subject pronoun. Only the tone and the context make it a command.
Prendete un ombrello, piove.
Take an umbrella, it's raining.
voi prendete = take (to a group).
Negative Tu: Non + Infinitive
To tell one friend not to do something, use non with the infinitive. For every other person, put non before the affirmative form.
Non preoccuparti.
Don't worry.
non parlare; but non parlate, non parli.
Lei Uses the Subjunctive Forms
The formal Lei command takes the present subjunctive: parli, prenda, dorma, finisca. This form works for anyone you address as Lei, man or woman.
Entri pure.
Do come in.
Lei: -ARE → -i; -ERE and -IRE → -a.
Pronouns Attach to Tu, Noi, and Voi
In affirmative commands with tu, noi, and voi, object and reflexive pronouns join the end of the verb as one word: guardami, alziamoci, sedetevi.
Aiutami, per favore.
Help me, please.
aiuta + mi = aiutami.
With Lei, Pronouns Go Before
Because the Lei form is a subjunctive, the pronoun stays in front of the verb as a separate word: si sieda, mi scusi, la prenda.
Si sieda, prego.
Sit down, please.
si sieda, mi scusi, la prenda.
Common Mistakes with Imperative
Incorrect: Non parla così! (Don't talk like that.)
Correct: Non parlare così! (Don't talk like that.)
The negative tu command is non plus the infinitive. Non parla is a statement: he doesn't speak, or (with Lei) you don't speak.
Incorrect: Signora, prendi la seconda strada a destra. (Madam, take the second street on the right.)
Correct: Signora, prenda la seconda strada a destra. (Madam, take the second street on the right.)
A stranger addressed as signora gets the formal Lei form, which is the subjunctive prenda. Prendi is only for tu.
Incorrect: Di' mi la verità. (Tell me the truth.)
Correct: Dimmi la verità. (Tell me the truth.)
Pronouns attach to tu commands as one word, and after di' the consonant doubles: dimmi.
Incorrect: Sei gentile con tua sorella. (Be kind to your sister.)
Correct: Sii gentile con tua sorella. (Be kind to your sister.)
Sei is the present tense (you are). The tu imperative of essere is the special form sii.
Regular and Irregular Imperative Forms
The imperative has no io form, shown here with an en dash. The loro form is a very formal plural you, rare in speech; most people use voi with groups.
Regular -ARE, -ERE, and -IRE Verbs
Parlare, prendere, and dormire follow the three regular patterns; finire shows the -isc- verbs.
| Pronoun | parlare | prendere | dormire | finire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| io | – | – | – | – |
| tu | parla | prendi | dormi | finisci |
| lui / lei / Lei | parli | prenda | dorma | finisca |
| noi | parliamo | prendiamo | dormiamo | finiamo |
| voi | parlate | prendete | dormite | finite |
| loro | parlino | prendano | dormano | finiscano |
The lui / lei / Lei row is used only for formal Lei; you cannot give a command to a third person this way.
Essere, Avere, Andare, Fare
Essere and avere have special tu and voi forms. Andare and fare have a short tu form with an apostrophe, and a longer form that is equally correct.
| Pronoun | essere | avere | andare | fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| io | – | – | – | – |
| tu | sii | abbi | va' / vai | fa' / fai |
| lui / lei / Lei | sia | abbia | vada | faccia |
| noi | siamo | abbiamo | andiamo | facciamo |
| voi | siate | abbiate | andate | fate |
| loro | siano | abbiano | vadano | facciano |
Sii gentile (be kind) and abbi pazienza (be patient) are the forms you will use most.
Dire, Dare, Stare, Venire
Dire has only the short tu form di'. Dare and stare, like andare and fare, have both a short and a long form.
| Pronoun | dire | dare | stare | venire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| io | – | – | – | – |
| tu | di' | da' / dai | sta' / stai | vieni |
| lui / lei / Lei | dica | dia | stia | venga |
| noi | diciamo | diamo | stiamo | veniamo |
| voi | dite | date | state | venite |
| loro | dicano | diano | stiano | vengano |
Stai attento (be careful) and stammi bene (take care) are everyday uses of stare.
Short Forms, Pronouns, and Written Instructions
Two details that you will meet constantly once you notice them.
Doubling after va', fa', da', di', and sta'
When a pronoun attaches to one of these five short tu forms, its first consonant doubles and the apostrophe disappears: di' + mi = dimmi, fa' + lo = fallo. The one exception is gli, which never doubles: digli, dagli.
- Fammi vedere.
- Let me see.
- Dagli il libro.
- Give him the book.
- Vacci tu.
- You go (there).
Pronouns combine with the short forms only. The long forms vai, fai, dai, and stai do not take attached pronouns.
The infinitive in written instructions
Recipes, labels, signs, and manuals often give instructions with the infinitive instead of the imperative. It addresses no one in particular.
- Mescolare bene e servire caldo.
- Stir well and serve hot.
- Tenere lontano dalla portata dei bambini.
- Keep out of the reach of children.
Non fumare on a sign is the same structure: no smoking.
Quick Check: Imperative
Give the imperative for the person in brackets.
1. (tu / ascoltare) ___ bene.
Answer: Ascolta
-ARE tu form ends in -a
2. (Lei / scusare) ___, dov'è la stazione?
Answer: Scusi
formal: subjunctive form
3. (tu, negative / mangiare) ___ troppo.
Answer: Non mangiare
non + infinitive
4. (voi / sedersi) ___ qui.
Answer: Sedetevi
pronoun attached to voi
5. (tu / fare + lo) ___ adesso.
Answer: Fallo
fa' + lo doubles the l
Imperative FAQs
- How do you form the imperative in Italian?
- For tu, -ARE verbs end in -a (parla) and -ERE and -IRE verbs in -i (prendi, dormi). For noi and voi, use the present tense (parliamo, parlate). For formal Lei, use the present subjunctive (parli, prenda, dorma).
- How do you make a negative command in Italian?
- For tu, use non with the infinitive: non parlare, non mangiare. For every other person, put non in front of the affirmative form: non parli (Lei), non parliamo (noi), non parlate (voi).
- Where do pronouns go with the imperative?
- With affirmative tu, noi, and voi commands, they attach to the end of the verb: guardami, prendilo, alziamoci. With Lei, they go before the verb: mi scusi, si accomodi. With negative tu commands, both are correct: non farlo and non lo fare.
- What are the irregular imperatives in Italian?
- The main ones in the tu form are essere (sii), avere (abbi), sapere (sappi), dire (di'), and the pairs andare (va' or vai), dare (da' or dai), fare (fa' or fai), and stare (sta' or stai). Venire (vieni) and tenere (tieni) follow the irregular present.
- How do you say let's in Italian?
- Use the noi form of the imperative, which is the same as the present tense: andiamo (let's go), mangiamo (let's eat), vediamo (let's see). For let's not, add non: non litighiamo, let's not argue.