Hi there,

Something I'm seeing a lot in Italian writing is "ho" and it doesn't search very well when I look it up. Any hints?

It means "I have" The reason that you don't find it in the dictionary is because "ho" is not in the infinitive form of the verb ("avere") which means "to have"

When the verb is in the infinitive form you do not know who is performing the action. Some examples in English are "to run" "to speak" "to think" etc. In all of those examples, you do not know who is running, speaking, or thinking. That's why they are called infinitives.

"Avere" in Italian means "to have". You do not know however who is performing the action of having. Now when we take "avere" and break it down into its six parts, we now call that "conjugated" Now you know who is performing the action of having...it could be "I have" or maybe "they have" or "we have" etc.

Generally, conjugated verbs are not found in the dictionary...only infinitves are. You know that a verb is an infinitive when the verb ends in either "ere" "are" or "ire". "Ho" meaning "I have" is conjuated because now you know the person who is performing the action of having. who has???...I have. Do you get it?

Once again, in general conjugated verbs such as "ho" are not found in the dictionary...only infinitives such as "avere" are.

Avere = to have

Ho = I have
Hai = you have
Ha = he has/she has
Abbiamo = we have
Avete = you have (plural)
Hanno = they have

Parlare = to speak (this is the infinitive because you don't know who is speaking. You could find "parlare" in the dictionary)

Parlo = I speak
Parli = you speak
Parla = he or she speaks
Parliamo = we speak
Parlate = you speak (plural)
Parlano = They speak

Complimenti Giacomo.

Avere and essere are two must know by memory irregulare verbs.

Besides using them in the present tense you use them as helping verbs for forming the past tense.

Sono andato a Roma. I went to Rome. I have gone to Rome.

Ho letto il libro. I read the book. I have read the book.

So learn this too besides avere.

Essere

Io sono
tu sei
Lei
Lui e
lei
noi siamo
voi siete
loro sono

Grazie Giacomo, Villa
When I searched for them, I always got avere and essere and couldn't figure out how they become ho, hai, etc. I guess it was just their irregularity that threw me off. Thanks again.

A proposito gakyouni. Did we mention that the Italian letter "h" is silent?
So ho is pronounced o or oh. Samething in Spanish.

I just thought I would point out

we are = siamo I think that despite villa's many talents for language he made a typo that he wasn't aware of

Ahh, that helps a lots thanks
So that means "hai" would be pronounced ai?

Yes,

almost like the English word "EYE" but not exactly.

Now in addition, I can teach you how to conjugate a verb.

If the infinitive ends in "are" such as the verb parlare (to speak), simply
cut off the "are". Now you are left with "parl". Now add the appropriate endings:

add "o" for I parlo = I speak
add "i" for you parli = you speak
add "a" for he/she parla = he/she speaks
add "iamo" for we parliamo = we speak
add "ate" for you (plural) parlate = you speak (more than one person is speaking)
add "ano" for they parlano = they speak

This only works for verbs thatend in "are" and that are REGULAR VERBS! Irregular verbs are a whole different story.
Here are some verbs that you can use for practice:

cantare = to sing
nuotare = to swim
suonare = to play (instruments)
guardare = to watch
ascoltare = to listen to
studiare = to study
abitare = to live
pensare = to think
spiegare = to explain
cucinare = to cook
lavorare = to work
comprare = to buy

For example:

Ascoltare = to listen

Let's say I wanted to say we listen.

1. I start with my infinitive "ascoltare":
2. Chop off the "are"
3. you are left with "ascolt"
3. on the chart I wrote above you will see that the ending for "We" is "iamo"
4. add "iamo" to "ascolt"
5. the finished product is "ascoltiamo" = "We listen"

Now try these, post them here in a reply and I will tell you how you did!

I study

They swim

He sings

We cook

You (plural)think

Studio
Nuotano
Canta
Cuciniamo
Pensate

Good Job! Molto bene!