01 / 08
Start with yourself
Sono canadese.
I’m Canadian.
Sono stanco. / Sono stanca.
I’m tired. (man / woman)
Essere means to be. Sono can introduce a name, nationality or description. Italian usually omits the subject pronoun.
02 / 08
Speaking to someone
Sei italiano?
Are you Italian? (informal, to a man)
È italiana.
She’s Italian.
Sei goes with informal tu. For he, she or polite Lei, use è. The accent matters: e without it means and.
03 / 08
We and you all
Siamo amici.
We’re friends.
Siete pronti?
Are you ready? (to a group)
Siamo means we are. Siete is for more than one person, not the usual polite singular form.
04 / 08
They are
Sono a casa.
I’m at home.
Marco e Giulia sono a casa.
Marco and Giulia are at home.
Sono can mean I am or they are. Context or an explicit subject tells you which.
05 / 08
Origin and location
Sono di Milano.
I’m from Milan.
Sono a Roma.
I’m in Rome.
Di with a city describes origin. A with a city describes where someone is now.
06 / 08
Make it negative
Non sono pronto.
I’m not ready. (man)
Sei pronto?
Are you ready? (to a man)
Put non before the verb. For yes/no questions, keep the same word order and use question intonation.
07 / 08
All six forms in use
Io sono qui; tu sei lì; lei è a casa.
I’m here; you’re there; she’s at home.
Noi siamo pronti; voi siete pronti; loro sono pronti.
We’re ready; you’re ready; they’re ready.
Read the subjects once, then try saying just the verb and description. The forms are sono, sei, è, siamo, siete, sono.
Remember this
Takeaway
Siamo canadesi, ma siamo a Roma.
We’re Canadian, but we’re in Rome.
Choose the verb for the person. Use essere to identify, describe or locate someone.