lingly Logo lingly.ai

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns are a fundamental part of any language, including Italian. They are used to replace nouns and make sentences more concise and efficient. In Italian, personal pronouns have different forms depending on the grammatical person (first, second, or third) and number (singular or plural). In this guide, you will learn how to use personal pronouns correctly in Italian sentences.

Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns are used to replace the subject of a sentence. In Italian, subject pronouns have the following forms:

  • Io (I)
  • Tu (You, informal)
  • Lui (He) / Lei (She)
  • Noi (We)
  • Voi (You, plural or formal)
  • Loro (They)

Here are some examples of subject pronouns in sentences:

  • Io sono felice. (I am happy.)
  • Tu sei intelligente. (You are intelligent.)
  • Lui è italiano. (He is Italian.)
  • Lei è simpatica. (She is nice.)
  • Noi siamo amici. (We are friends.)
  • Voi siete bravi. (You are good.)
  • Loro sono occupati. (They are busy.)

Direct Object Pronouns

Direct object pronouns are used to replace the direct object of a sentence. In Italian, direct object pronouns have the following forms:

  • Mi (Me)
  • Ti (You, informal)
  • Lo (Him) / La (Her)
  • Ci (Us)
  • Vi (You, plural or formal)
  • Li (Them) / Le (Them, feminine)

Here are some examples of direct object pronouns in sentences:

  • Io ti vedo. (I see you.)
  • Loro ci chiamano. (They call us.)
  • Lei lo conosce. (She knows him.)
  • Noi vi aspettiamo. (We await you.)
  • Tu la inviti. (You invite her.)
  • Voi li vedete. (You see them.)
  • Io le aiuto. (I help them, feminine.)

Indirect Object Pronouns

Indirect object pronouns are used to replace the indirect object of a sentence. In Italian, indirect object pronouns have the following forms:

  • Mi (To me)
  • Ti (To you, informal)
  • Gli (To him) / Le (To her)
  • Ci (To us)
  • Vi (To you, plural or formal)
  • Gli (To them)

Here are some examples of indirect object pronouns in sentences:

  • Lui mi scrive. (He writes to me.)
  • Io ti parlo. (I speak to you.)
  • Noi gli raccontiamo tutto. (We tell him everything.)
  • Lei ci dà un regalo. (She gives us a gift.)
  • Voi vi telefonate. (You call each other.)
  • Loro gli insegnano l'italiano. (They teach them Italian.)

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used to express actions that the subject does to itself. In Italian, reflexive pronouns have the following forms:

  • Mi (Myself)
  • Ti (Yourself, informal)
  • Si (Himself / Herself)
  • Ci (Ourselves)
  • Vi (Yourselves, plural or formal)
  • Si (Themselves)

Here are some examples of reflexive pronouns in sentences:

  • Io mi lavo le mani. (I wash myself hands.)
  • Tu ti diverti. (You enjoy yourself.)
  • Lui si veste elegante. (He dresses himself elegantly.)
  • Noi ci divertiamo. (We enjoy ourselves.)
  • Voi vi chiamate. (You call yourselves.)
  • Loro si svegliano presto. (They wake up themselves early.)

Summary

Personal pronouns are an essential part of Italian grammar. By mastering the use of personal pronouns, you can create concise and accurate sentences. Here's a summary of the personal pronouns in Italian:

  • Subject Pronouns: Io, Tu, Lui/Lei, Noi, Voi, Loro
  • Direct Object Pronouns: Mi, Ti, Lo/La, Ci, Vi, Li/Le
  • Indirect Object Pronouns: Mi, Ti, Gli/Le, Ci, Vi, Gli
  • Reflexive Pronouns: Mi, Ti, Si, Ci, Vi, Si

Remember to use personal pronouns correctly to improve your Italian speaking and writing skills. Happy learning!

Created: 12/18/2023 | Updated: 5/5/2025

Continue your Italian language learning journey

Career-focused

Professional Italian Training

Our AI-powered platform creates a personalised learning journey tailored to your career goals. Master job-specific vocabulary, practice realistic dialogues, and receive smart grammar support—all in your native language.

Level-specific

A1 Italian Grammar

Access all grammar guides tailored specifically for A1 level Italian learners.

Browse A1 guides
Complete library

All Italian Resources

Explore our complete collection of Italian grammar guides across all proficiency levels.

View full library

We're solving the language barrier in adult social care. Learn more