essere

to be

verb ES-seh-reh Common

Origin: Latin esse (to be)

Usage Note

Essere is used as the auxiliary for reflexive verbs, verbs of motion, and verbs of state — sono andato (I went), è partita (she left). Unlike avere, it requires the past participle to agree in gender and number with the subject: lei è andata, loro sono andati. It also serves as the copula linking subject to predicate.

Examples

"Lui è molto stanco."

Natural Translation

He is very tired.

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