The verb "avere" in Italian translates to "to have" in English.
Unlike English, Italians "have" conditions rather than "being" them, such as hunger, thirst, etc.
Verb Conjugation for avere (to have)
I have: io ho
You have: tu hai
She/it has: lei ha
He/it has: lui ha
We have: noi abbiamo
All of you have: voi avete
They have: loro hanno
Practical Usage
Italians express hunger by saying "I have hunger" instead of "I am hungry".
I have hunger: io ho fame
Examples for other pronouns:
You have hunger: tu hai fame
She/it has hunger: lei ha fame
He/it has hunger: lui ha fame
We have hunger: noi abbiamo fame
All of you have hunger: voi avete fame
They have hunger: loro hanno fame
Additional Expressions
Thirst: Maria ha sete (Maria is thirsty)
Sleepiness: Noi abbiamo sonno (We are sleepy)
Coldness: Loro hanno freddo (They are cold)
Hotness: Tu hai caldo (You are hot)
Tips
It’s common in Italian to omit the personal pronoun unless emphasis or clarity is needed, as verbs often provide enough information.
Resources
For further practice and lessons, visit the Italian Experiment website for free lessons, stories, and additional resources on Italian language learning.