esente

exempt, free from

adjective eh-ZEN-teh Rare

Origin: From Latin exemptus (removed, freed).

Usage Note

Esente always takes da (from): esente da tasse (tax-exempt), esente da colpa (free from blame). It is invariable for gender (un prodotto esente, una persona esente) but takes normal plural -i/-i. In bureaucratic and legal Italian it is very common; in casual speech libero da is often preferred.

Examples

"Questo prodotto è esente da IVA."

Natural Translation

This product is VAT-exempt.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian Noun Gender: Rules, Endings & Exceptions

Italian noun gender decoded: -o is usually masculine, -a feminine, but -zione and -tà are feminine, -ore and -ma masculine. Plus the trap words to memorize.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

How to Order Coffee in Italy Like a Local

Order coffee in Italy like a local: say un caffè (not espresso), pay at the cassa first, drink al banco, and skip the latte trap. Phrases inside.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Days & Months in Italian: A Beginner's Guide

Days of the week in Italian are lowercase, all masculine except la domenica, and il lunedì means every Monday. Learn the days, months, dates, and seasons.

June 5, 2026 4 min read

ItalianNow

Italian False Friends: 20 Words That Trick You

Italian false friends like preservativo, parenti, and caldo mean the opposite of what English speakers expect. Here are 20 ranked by how badly they bite.

June 5, 2026 6 min read