Personal pronouns in Italian
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsSign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Our offer
In Italian, there are 4 categories of personal pronouns.
In this chapter we are going to discuss all of the 4 categories.
We use personal pronouns (pronomi personali) to replace persons, animals, things or ideas.
Subject pronouns | Stressed personal pronouns | Unstressed personal pronouns Direct object pronouns | Unstressed personal pronouns Indirect object pronouns |
---|---|---|---|
Io (I) | Me (Me) | Mi | Mi |
Tu - Lei (You) | Te (You) | Ti | Ti |
Egli, Esso → Lui (He) | Lui (Him) | Lo, Gli | Gli, Ne |
Ella, Essa → Lei (She) | Lei (Her) | La, Le | Le, Ne |
Noi (We) | Noi (Us) | Ci | Ci |
Voi (You) | Voi (You) | Vi | Vi |
Essi → Loro (They, masculine) | Loro (Them) | Li | Gli, Loro, Ne |
Esse → Loro (They, feminine) | Loro (Them) | Le | Gli, Loro, Ne |
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
Pronoun | English |
---|---|
Io | I |
Tu (Lei) | You (You) |
Egli, Esso → Lui | He |
Ella, Essa → Lei | She |
Esso | It |
Noi | We |
Voi | You |
Essi → Loro | They (masculine) |
Esse → Loro | They (feminine) |
The third person pronouns (Egli, Esso, Ella, Essa, Essi, Esse) could still appear in some texts but they have been replaced in speech and writing by more colloquial forms, Lui, Lei, Loro.
In Italian we can omit the subject pronoun to highlight the action instead of the subject
Italian | English |
---|---|
(Io) Voglio festeggiare il mio compleanno in spiaggia. | I want to have a birthday party on the beach. |
(Tu) Vuoi che me ne vada? | Do you want me to leave? |
(Noi) Cuciniamo degli spaghetti. | We are cooking some spaghetti. |
The form Lei is a form of politeness.
It's used in a formal context and when addressing somebody you don't know well, older or in a higher position than you.
Remember to write it with a capital letter, not to confuse it with third singular person lei (she).
To distinguish it from Tu, pay attention to the main verb.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Ehi, tu, vieni qui! | Hey you, come here! |
Io e lei abbiamo una relazione a distanza da un anno. | She and I have been in a long-distance relationship for a year. |
Signor Rossi, io credo che Lei dovrebbe accettare questa proposta. | Mr. Rossi, I think you should accept this proposal. |
To understand the difference between these two kinds of pronouns, it's necessary to analize the sentence and context.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Tu mangi | You eat. (You → subject of the sentence, does the action) |
Io ti vedo. | I see you. (You → complement: direct object, answers question Who? What?) |
Io parlo con te. | I talk to you. (You → complement: indirect object, answers question Whom? To what?) |
These pronouns are used to replace an indirect object (whom? to what? for what?).
They are called stressed because the accent of the sentence falls on them.
Stressed pronouns don't need to be merged with the main verb, unlike unstressed pronouns.
They usually come after the verb and are introduced by a preposition.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Me | Me |
Te | You |
Lui | Him |
Lei | Her |
Noi | Us |
Voi | You |
Loro | Them |
Let's analize some examples.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Volevo andare con lui. | I wanted to go with him. |
Questa torta è stata fatta da me. | This cake was baked by me. |
Basta chiacchierare con loro! | Stop chatting with them! |
These pronouns are called unstressed because the accent of the sentence never falls on them.
Direct object pronouns replace the direct object (who? what?).
These pronouns can either precede the verb or be merged with it. The differences in usage depends on the context.
Direct object pronouns |
---|
Mi |
Ti |
Lo (masculine) La (feminine) L' (+vowel) Ne |
Ci |
Vi |
Li (masculine) Le (feminine) |
Take a look at the following sentences
English | Italian |
---|---|
È una bella notizia, l'ho sentita ieri. | It is a good news, I heard about it yesterday. |
Non trovo le chiavi. Le hai viste? | I can't find my keys. Have you seen them? |
Ti ho visto l'altra sera in giro. | I saw you around the other night. |
Mi senti? | Do you hear me? |
Ci incontreremo in piazza. | We will meet in the square |
A direct object pronoun is merged with the verb if its mood is infinitive, gerund or participle.
Remember! Drop the final vowel of the verb before adding the pronoun.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Non sono riuscito a convincerle. convincere (to convince) → convincer- → convincerle (to convince them) | I did not succeed in convincing them. |
C'è del pesce in frigo. Mangialo! | There's some fish in the fridge. Eat it! |
Vieni a trovarci! trovare (to come and see) → trovar- → trovarci (come and visit us) | Come visit us! |
Indirect object pronouns replace indirect objects (whom? to what? for what?).
They could be considered the equivalent of "to me", "to you", "to him", or any question that could be answered with a English preposition.
These pronouns always require a verb and they can either precede or be placed after it.
Indirect object pronouns |
---|
Mi |
Ti |
Gli, Le, Ne |
Ci |
Vi |
Gli (masculine), Loro (feminine), Ne |
Take a look at the following sentences.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Ho bisogno di affidarti il mio gatto per tre giorni. | I need you to take care of my cat for three days. |
Tra poco vi porterò del pane. | I will soon bring you some bread. |
Mi ha convinto, così le ho dato una possibilità. | She convinced me, so I gave her a chance. |
Gli parlerò io. | I will talk to him. |
Ti spedirò una lettera. | I will send you a letter. |
When the pronouns come after a verb, they are usually merged with the verb form itself if the verb is an infinite, gerund or participle.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Portateci del vino. | Bring us some wine. |
Ci interessa la vostra offerta. | We are interested in your offer. |
Regalami un profumo nuovo! | Get me a new perfume as a present! |
Digli che ho cambiato idea. | Tell him I changed my mind. |
Non può mandarti quella email. | He can't send you that email. |
Direct and indirect object pronouns may be used together in the same sentence or even in the same word.
If the direct object is placed towards the end of a sentence, it's usually referred back to with a pronoun in the sentence that follows.
Guarda quelle arance. Me le porti? (Will you bring me those oranges?)
Me = to me
Le = the oranges, direct object
The indirect object pronoun usually precedes the direct object pronoun and changes its form as follows:
Indirect object pronoun | New form |
---|---|
Mi | Me |
Ti | Te |
Gli | Glie |
Le | Glie |
Ci | Ce |
Vi | Ve |
Gli | Glie |
Here are all the possible combinations:
Person | Masculine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Singular | Feminine Plural |
---|---|---|---|---|
It + me | Me lo | Me la | Me li | Me le |
It + you | Te lo | Te la | Te li | Te le |
It + him/her/it | Glielo | Gliela | Glieli | Gliele |
It + us | Ce lo | Ce la | Ce li | Ce le |
It + you | Ve lo | Ve la | Ve li | Ve le |
It + them | Glielo | Gliela | Glieli | Gliele |
Let's analize some examples.
Italian | English |
---|---|
Non ve lo dico. | I won't tell you this. |
Me li dai 10 euro? | Don't you give me 10 euros? |
Te lo spiegherà Marco. | Marco will explain this to you. |
Glielo puoi inviare? | Can you send this to him? |
Ce li hanno portati dall'Olanda. | They brought us these from the Netherlands. |
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Hello my name is Lucia and I am a native Italian speaker.
I have a degree as an interpreter for English and French so I know how hard it may be to learn a foreign language. I work as a free-lance interpreter and private English and French teacher. I have a strong passion for languages which I have been studying for many years. I am studying Spanish now and always trying to improve my English and French knowledge. I am a friendly person and my lessons mainly focus on conversation. As a teacher I am very patient and I always propose tailor-made lessons with respect to your needs. I am really enthusiastic about being a teacher because this activity allows you to share your culture and habits with foreign people. Learning a language is also learning a new culture.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
It is difficult to judge a teacher properly after a first lesson. Moreover, due to my fault, the internet connection did not go very well. Despite the foregoing, I was very satisfied with the first lesson.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Daniela is super nice! Super professional and lessons delivered in a informal and enjoyable way! Thanks Daniela :)
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I am a teacher of Italian to Speakers of Other Languages with many years of experience in teaching in public and private schools. I have taught Italian to speakers of other languages in schools, in migratory contexts and in vocational training at all levels (from pre A1 to C2 ). I have gained experience as a teacher with Arabic-speaking, Slavic-speaking, German-speaking, French-speaking, Spanish-speaking, Sinophone, Lusophone and Anglophone students, and have taught literacy courses for asylum seekers and refugees. I did a training internship as a lecturer in Italian at the Department of Romance at the University of Salzburg. I completed my training by teaching Italian to learners with special educational needs. Moreover, I am a CILS, CELI and PLIDA examiner for the speaking part. I also speak German, English and French and I successfully completed my Celta in October 2020.
My lessons focus mainly on two aspects: oral and written production and the study of grammar, with particular attention to phonetic and phonology. My lessons are aimed at satisfying the needs of the learner and are prepared according to the needs of each one.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Monica is fantastic -- highly organized, knowledgeable and friendly. She is very easy to learn from. I feel like I am in very good hands. I highly recommend her especially if you need help preparing for a certification exam (CELI, CILS, etc.).
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Ana is a genuinely nice person and her kindness and gentleness comes through in the lessons. I thoroughly enjoy Ana’s teaching , it’s informative and tailored exactly to what I want to achieve. I wholeheartedly recommend Ana as your Spanish tutor.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi, guys! My name is Lucia and I would like to invite you to learn Italian with me.
I am both a native speaker and a QUALIFIED teacher, as I hold a post-graduate degree in “Teaching Italian as a second language” and a national certification as teacher of Italian to not-native speaking.
My teaching method is COMMUNICATION-oriented and involves also the study of Italian culture and grammar. Indeed, as it happens in your mother language, the knowledge of spare words is not enough to get able to speak (i.e. INTERACT!) properly and conveniently.
I’ll prepare for you all teaching materials, tailoring lessons to your needs and interests, taking advantage from both the huge number of textbooks I hold and my creativity!
I offer lessons for all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced, as well as support in preparation to certification exams (I am also qualified ad examiner for the oral part of CELI).
Do not hesitate to get in contact with me to find a suitable time-slot for your trial lesson!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I highly recommend Lucia, she is an amazing teacher, very pedagogical and explains all the rules in a very comprehensible manner. The program/book she uses is great, words are easy to remember and the exercises are interesting and interactive. 5 out of 5!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I'm a certified Italian teacher based in my hometown Florence. I spent my childhood in a small village in the Chianti countryside and I always loved to explore curious aspects of different languages. I studied Arabic, English, French and Spanish and I like to help students with practical insights into Italian language to better fix the structures and improve pronunciation, grammar and conversation. After my studies (master degree in teaching Italian as a second language + CEDILS certificate - teaching Italian to foreign students), I taught in different contexts and countries (IIC of Beirut, private schools in Prague, companies in Malta and Florence and to many many private students!).
I try each time to adapt to every student's needs, with mainly one goal: making every student enthusiastic about the learning process and more and more confident. I use a communicative approach and I can offer classes of Italian languages, cinema, culture, gestures, focuses on grammar, conversation, etc.
A presto!
Olivia
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
The lesson answered all my expectations. The conversation was fluent. Olivia was very sensitive to my goals. I thank her for this lovely experience. to be continued… 12 weeks later, and I am so satisfied and grateful. The lessons are lively and fun. to be continued...
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello my name is Lucia and I am a native Italian speaker.
I have a degree as an interpreter for English and French so I know how hard it may be to learn a foreign language. I work as a free-lance interpreter and private English and French teacher. I have a strong passion for languages which I have been studying for many years. I am studying Spanish now and always trying to improve my English and French knowledge. I am a friendly person and my lessons mainly focus on conversation. As a teacher I am very patient and I always propose tailor-made lessons with respect to your needs. I am really enthusiastic about being a teacher because this activity allows you to share your culture and habits with foreign people. Learning a language is also learning a new culture.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Lucia is a very engaging and sympathetic teacher. And although we have only done a couple of lessons we are feeling much more confident about the possibility of being able to converse in Italian. Thank you Lucia!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Daniela is a wonderful teacher, flexible and adaptable, and able to provide encouragement when it is needed (often in my case). I absolutely picked the right teacher when I signed up, and would happily recommend her to anybody as a teacher.
Daniela V.Dear Michael, your words fill me with joy! I'll keep on doing my best to encourage you and help you study the language :-)
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Why should you choose me? Take a look at what people say who have taken online classes with me.
Book lessons with me and
- prepare Dutch exams "Basisinburgering A1" and "Inburgeringsexamen A2". Your full commitment and my energetic, professional approach are the winning combination to help you succeed at once!
- learn Dutch because you live in the Netherlands (or are planning to move there) and still don’t speak the language properly or haven’t started yet. You’ll enjoy your environment more!
- learn Italian for work or because you will move to this beautiful country or simply because you just love it. Let me help you experience the language!
- study Spanish for pleasure, work or because you have to prepare an exam for school and you need to get confident to perform optimally
- get confident in useful daily conversations, meetings at work, exams, and presentations
- overcome the fear of failure; if you have learning problems, feel shy or need a boost of energy you’ll get confident enough to achieve your goals
My lessons are based on conversations. My method is to help you practice the language from the very beginning in spontaneous and direct conversations, using often role plays.
With books, articles, songs, and other interesting and stimulating material I will encourage conversation, develop grammar in a simpler way, and improve pronunciation.
Learning a foreign language is not a matter of doing much effort, but rather of being consistent, enjoying the lessons and allowing your intuition to work with you. You will book immediate results while having fun!
I've been teaching Dutch, Spanish and Italian for many years, in The Netherlands, for private institutes, for the integration of foreigners into society (Inburgering), and online from Italy, where I currently live.
Contact me for a free trial and let me know how I can help you.
CANCELATION POLICY
If you cancel a reservation please do it at least 24 hours before the session
(otherwise I would have to charge you for the lesson).
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Very Nice communication, easy to study and prictice Italiano, I am a Biginner and She has the patient to understand me.
Elena P.Thank you so much for the feedback, Pedro! It's a pleasure to work with you and help you achieve your goal.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi!
My name is Mariateresa, I'm Italian and I teach English, Italian and Spanish to foreign students.
Having lived in Spain during my last year at University, I moved to the UK, where I lived for the next five years. My English at that time was quite poor and I made a living by doing various jobs.
One day, inspired by my amazing English teacher Mandy, I had an idea: why not teach my native language and Spanish to English people and other nationalities? You wouldn’t believe how fascinated people are by these languages!
It was in 2017 when I fell in love with this job. So much so that one year later I successfully attained a TESOL Certificate, to teach English as a foreign language.
Teaching allows me to fully express myself and my personal qualities, such as patience and an ability to give my full attention to other people. By giving students a space in which to express themselves without fear, I create a safe, non-judgemental environment.
When a new student contacts me I always offer them a free trial lesson, so that we can introduce ourselves and I can get to know their level, interests and needs. It's from there that I create the ensuing lessons.
I provide students with a solid grammar base, but also help them to understand the application and use of the language in everyday life. At the same time, I tailor the lesson to suit the students' main interests – such as grammar, speaking, pronunciation, writing or exam preparation. I teach students of different levels, from beginners to advanced.
Although I love teaching in-person, I have adapted myself to teaching online as well. I have also completed a Teaching English Online course offered by Cambridge University. I have to admit that it's a really effective method, plus you meet people from all over the world!
Having lived abroad for several years I know that learning a foreign language requires time, but it's also fun. By speaking in it we can express hidden parts of ourselves – it's a bit like acting!
You can also assimilate the culture from which the language evolves. It's interesting to see how we can change and develop!
My aim is to transmit to students the idea that nothing is impossible. Learning a language is challenging, but entirely achievable if you keep in mind that it's a journey made of small steps.
What is important is to establish those small objectives every day, and reach them with calm determination.
Like a tracker counts the steps that you walk, put on your “count-words tracker” and you'll be surprised at how much you have learned by the end of the day!
For more information visit:
https://campsite.bio/mariateresa.medici
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I am more than happy to have met Mariateresa as a teacher! She quickly understands the problems a student can encounter, and finds the solutions. She keeps me motivated! I realise that I have made a lot of progress in Italian in the short time since we started our lessons. Can one say better than that?!!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
**Other time slots can be made available upon request. Don't hesitate to get in touch**
Native speaker from Paris with about 15 years of teaching experience. I’m well-travelled, and I’ve lived and worked in different parts of the world (Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa, Australia and a little bit in Asia).
I have a postgraduate degree (France) in Languages, Literature and Cultural Studies and I’m currently a freelance translator. I’ve previously worked at universities in France and abroad (South Africa/Australia) and have a solid experience in teaching (French Language, Literature, Philosophy, Cultural Studies, Creative Writing, etc.), designing courses, evaluating and guiding students, preparing students for exams/job interviews/professional presentations, managing a Language and Literature department at the university, presenting papers at academic conferences worldwide, publishing, translating and journalism. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to teach people with different profiles and from various backgrounds: international professionals, university students, beginner translators and teachers, high school students, retirees, travellers, francophiles, children (help with homework), etc.
Being an open-minded, flexible and patient teacher, I enjoy helping others to discover their potential and to explore it. Adapting myself to my students' needs, pace and objectives is essential for me, and designing the best way to work with each student is very stimulating and rewarding.
After the initial introductory lesson, I will design customised lesson plans that will evolve as you progress. We can also, at any time during the programme, change our working method if you wish to do so. I remain very flexible in that regard.
The learning materials will be varied, and we will choose together the themes and aspects of French language to be covered, in line with your objectives. In any case, I am very attentive in general, so please don't hesitate to make any suggestions.
Regardless of your level and objectives, I'm sure that we can find the best way possible to share and enjoy this French language adventure together.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I've studied with Priscilla for a month already. For me, every lesson is a great experience! Priscilla is very considerate, supportive, and attentive to the needs of her students. Priscilla uses wide variety of materials and always finds something special for you, so you can both upgrade your knowledge and enjoy the process of learning :) After every lesson I feel more confident in my French :)
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Native teacher with 30 years of teaching experience. Bachelor of Education (Sydney Australia). Dynamic and interactive lessons where the student is an active participant. The lessons can be tailored to your personal and professional needs. I prepare students for international exams.
Join me and let's have fun learning together.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
July is really the best teacher you can get. She prepares extremely well-structured lessons and is very kind. I totally recommend her to anyone that wants to learn English.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi there, I’m Letizia!
I've always had a great passion for languages and have made it my life's work.
I have been teaching English, Spanish and Italian as second languages (L2) to international students for 7 years now. I mainly work with teenagers and adults, but I also have experience with school-age children.
I am specialised in Psycholinguistics and Applied Linguistics for teaching: specifically, I work on the processes of L2 language acquisition (SLA), language development and processing.
Course features:
- Exams and certifications
- Academic and colloquial language
- Vocabulary and oral skills
- Course build on your needs and goals
- Interactive activities
- Authentic and personalised study materials.
Cancellation policy: to cancel or reschedule a lesson, please give at least a 6 hours notice.
Delays are accepted for up to 15 minutes, after which the lesson will be considered not cancelled and, thus, charged.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Very professional. Well thought out and planned lessons. Materials to prep for lesson sent out well in advance.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Rina is a pleasure to work with. Her lessons go by quickly, because they are a lot of fun. She is always on time, sends the material beforehand, is always available for questions and corrects homework right away. She is funny & energetic. She speaks German and Italian. I can only recommend taking lessons with her, because it is fun and you learn quickly and good.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Are you doing an Erasmus in Italy or Spain?
Are you came back recently?
Do you want a languages certification?
Here i am! I'm Andrea an Italian/spanish teacher that living in Spain. I got a Teaching Master and I'm working as italian teacher. Also, I have a C1 spanish level ( DELE certification) and I can teach you both languages.
Send me a request and we can find the best solution for you ;)
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
It's very useful to go through writing I have done and discuss other ways of expressing the same idea.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials