A Guide to 8 Types of Italian Pronouns + How To Use Them

Learning a new language makes life, travel, and connections with people more exciting. But when it comes to studying grammar, some rules need a little bit of effort to master. For those starting to learn Italian, pronouns are the missing ingredient that makes your sentences instantly better and easier to construct. Understanding how and when to use Italian pronouns will help you avoid repetition and sound like a true native.

What are Italian pronouns?

Pronome means “in place of a noun.” Italian pronouns are small words that replace nouns, such as people or objects that were previously mentioned in the sentence or conversation.

Maria arriverà all’aeroporto stasera e la andremo a prendere. = Maria will arrive at the airport tonight, and we will pick her up.

In some cases, pronouns can also refer to entire sentences:

In che città italiana andrai? Non me lo hai detto. = What Italian city are you going to? You haven’t told me (that).

As you can see, pronouns help avoid repetition and make you sound more fluent in Italian. There are eight types of pronouns in Italian that we’ll cover in this guide, each with their own specific role.

The main types of Italian pronouns are:

pronomi soggetto (subject pronouns)
pronomi di complemento diretto (direct object pronouns)
pronomi di complemento indiretto (indirect object pronouns)
pronomi riflessivi (reflexive pronouns)
pronomi possessivi (possessive pronouns)
pronomi dimostrativi (demonstrative pronouns)
pronomi indefiniti (indefinite pronouns)
pronomi interrogativi (interrogative pronouns)

Subject pronouns in Italian

Subject pronouns indicate who is performing the action in a sentence. These Italian pronouns are very similar to the English ones.

Subject Pronouns	Italian Example	English Translation
Io I	Io sono in Italia.	I am in Italy.
Tu You	Tu sei un turista.	You are a tourist.
Lui/Egli He	Lui ama la cucina italiana.	He loves Italian cuisine.
Lei/Ella She	Lei visita Roma spesso.	She visits Rome often.
Noi We	Noi passeggiamo per Firenze.	We walk around Florence.
Voi You, formal	Voi parlate italiano?	Do you (plural) speak Italian?
Loro/Essi They	Loro viaggiano in treno.	They travel by train.

Notice that there are double personal pronouns for the third person in Italian: lui/egli (he), lei/ella (she), and loro/essi (they).

This distinction reflects the evolution of the language. Egli/ella/essi were once more common and are still found in grammar books, but today, they’re rarely heard in everyday spoken Italian.

Instead, lui/lei/loro have become the standard subject pronouns in conversation.

Additionally, lei (she) has a specific role in formal speech, as it’s also used to address someone respectfully, much like the formal “you” in English.).

So, if you want to ask someone, “Do you speak Italian?” you can say:

Tu parli italiano? (informal)
Lei parla italiano? (formal)

How to use subject pronouns in Italian

Similar to English, you can replace the name of the person performing the action with a pronoun.

Marta ha visitato Venezia. (Marta visited Venice.) = Lei ha visitato Venezia. (She visited Venice.)

Since Italian verbs change their endings depending on the subject, the subject is often unnecessary. Italians will drop the pronoun, too, to avoid repetition. You’ll know which pronoun is being referred to by the verb’s conjugation.

Lei era in ferie. ~~Lei~~ Ha visitato Venezia. = She was on vacation. She (implied) has visited Venice.

In certain cases, however, you should still use the pronoun to clarify the subject or to put particular emphasis on it.

Lei ha visitato Venezia, non io. = She visited Venice, not me.

There’s another exception to know with Italian subject pronouns. When using anche (also), the subject pronoun must be always included:

Anch’io voglio andare a Venezia. = I also want to go to Venice.

Direct object pronouns in Italian

The pronomi di complemento diretto, or direct object pronouns, may be the harder Italian pronouns to master, because they look very different from English. But they can really refine your speaking and writing.

Direct object pronouns in Italian answer the questions “who?” or “what?” And they indicate the person or object that directly receives the action of the verb.

When using direct object pronouns in Italian, they can appear in two forms: weak and strong. Both forms convey the same idea but are used in different contexts based on emphasis, word order, and sentence structure.

Direct Object Pronoun (Weak)	Direct Object Pronoun (Strong)	English Translation
mi	me	me
ti	te	you (singular)
lo	lui	him/it (masculine)
la	lei	her/it (feminine)
ci	noi	us
vi	voi	you (plural)
li	loro	them (masculine)
le	loro	them (feminine)

When to use the weak form of direct object pronouns

Weak-form pronouns are the most commonly used in everyday speech. These pronouns make sentences concise, usually come before the verb, and are directly attached to it without any prepositions.

Mi vedi? = Can you see me?
La conosci? = Do you know her?

The weak form of direct object Italian pronouns can also be attached directly to the verb, mainly when the verb is in its infinitive, imperative, or gerund form. It might also happen when you use the adverb ecco (here’s).

Voglio vederti domani. = I want to see you tomorrow.
Posso aiutarli? = Can I help them?
Eccovi finalmente! = There you are at last!

When to use the strong form of direct object pronouns

The strong form of direct object pronouns is especially useful in contexts where you want to draw clear attention to the object or contrast two different objects in the sentence.

Voglio vedere te domani, non lei. = I want to see you tomorrow, not her.
Posso aiutare loro, ma nessun altro. = I can help them, but no one else.

Indirect object pronouns in Italian

While direct object pronouns answer the questions “who?” or “what?” and refer to the person or thing directly receiving the action of the verb, indirect object pronouns answer the questions “to whom?” or “for whom?” They are used when the verb is followed by the Italian preposition a (to).

Indirect object pronouns refer to the person or thing that indirectly benefits from or is affected by the action. For example, in the sentence “I give the book to Maria,” Maria is the indirect recipient of the action. In Italian, you can replace her name with an indirect object pronoun to avoid repetition.

This example can clarify the main difference between the two:

Direct object pronoun
- La vedo ogni giorno. = I see her every day.
Indirect object pronoun
- Le parlo ogni giorno. = I talk to her every day.

Indirect object pronouns also have a weak and a strong form.

Indirect Object Pronoun (Weak)	Indirect Object Pronoun (Strong)	English Translation
mi	a me	to/for me
ti	a te	to/for you (singular)
gli	a lui	to/for him
le	a lei	to/for her
ci	a noi	to/for us
vi	a voi	to/for you (plural)
gli	a loro	to/for them

When to use the weak and strong forms of indirect object pronouns

Even in the case of indirect object pronouns in Italian, the weak form is the most common and widely used.

Ti voglio fare un regalo. = I want to give you a gift.

The strong form appears mainly in sentences where it’s necessary to emphasize who is receiving the action.

Ho fatto il regalo a te, non a lui. = I gave the gift to you, not to him.

Indirect object pronouns also typically precede the verb, except when the verb is in the imperative, gerund, or infinitive:

Fagli sapere quando arriverò. = Let him know when I will arrive.
Parlandole, ho capito i suoi sentimenti. = By talking to her, I understood her feelings.
È bastato spiegargli le mie ragioni. = It was enough to explain my reasons to them.

Reflexive pronouns in Italian

Reflexive pronouns are your go-to when the subject is doing something to itself. Think of them as a little mirror reflecting the action back. These pronouns might seem tricky, but they follow predictable patterns that are easy to master once you get the hang of them.

Reflexive Pronoun	Italian Example	English Translation
Mi Myself	Io mi sveglio presto.	I wake up (myself) early.
Ti Yourself	Tu ti lavi le mani.	You wash your (own) hands.
Si Himself/herself	Lui/lei si veste in fretta.	He/She dress/es (himself/herself) quickly.
Ci Ourselves	Noi ci alziamo tardi.	We get (ourselves) up late.
Vi Yourselves	Voi vi divertite?	Are you all enjoying yourselves?
Si Themselves	Loro si sono preparati per uscire.	They got (themselves) ready to go out.

How to use reflexive pronouns

Use the reflexive pronouns before the verbs to indicate that the subject performs and receives the action. A helpful tip is that you can omit the subject, too:

Io Mi alzo presto. = I wake up (myself) early.
~~Io e Carla~~ Ci siamo viste ieri. = Carla and I saw each other yesterday.

Some Italian verbs can have a reflexive form. In this case, the reflexive pronoun is integrated with the verb:

Alziamoci presto domattina. = Let’s get up (ourselves) early tomorrow morning.
Divertirsi è importante! = Having fun is important! (Divertirsi means “to have fun,” but literally translates as “to amuse/to enjoy oneself.”)

Watch out for verbs that change meaning when used reflexively. For example, chiamare means “to call,” while chiamarsi means “to call oneself” or “to be named.”

Possessive pronouns in Italian

When you want to talk about ownership without repeating the noun, possessive pronouns are your best friend. These pronouns replace the noun and tell you exactly who something belongs to.

Possessive Pronoun	Italian Example	English Translation
il mio/la mia mine	Questa borsa è la mia.	This bag is mine.
il tuo/la tua yours	Questo libro è il tuo.	This book is yours.
il suo/la sua his, hers	La casa è la sua.	The house is his/hers.
il nostro/la nostra ours	La macchina è la nostra.	The car is ours.
il vostro/la vostra yours, plural	Queste chiavi sono le vostre.	These keys are yours.
il loro/la loro theirs	Questo cane è il loro.	This dog is theirs.

How to use possessive pronouns

Unlike English, where you might say “this is mine,” in Italian, you need to throw in an article like il or la (the) before the possessive pronoun.

Questa macchina è la mia. = This car is mine.

This article has to match the gender and number of the noun being replaced. But be aware that the pronoun must coincide in gender and number with the thing being possessed—not the person who owns it!

Demonstrative pronouns in Italian

Demonstrative pronouns help you point out specific people or things. Think of them as the Italian equivalents of “this” and “that.”

Italian Demonstrative Pronoun	English Demonstrative Pronoun	Italian Example	English Translation
questo (masculine singular)	this	Questo è il mio libro.	This is my book.
questa (feminine singular)	this	Questa è la tua borsa.	This is your bag.
questi (masculine plural)	these	Questi sono i suoi amici.	These are his friends.
queste (feminine plural)	these	Queste sono le tue chiavi.	These are your keys.
quello (masculine singular)	that	Quello è il mio cappello.	That is my hat.
quella (feminine singular)	that	Quella è la sua macchina.	That is his car.
quelli (masculine plural)	those	Quelli sono i loro cani.	Those are their dogs.
quelle (feminine plural)	those	Quelle sono le mie scarpe.	Those are my shoes.

How to use demonstrative pronouns

The helpful thing to know is that demonstrative pronouns are super intuitive—just make sure they coincide with the gender and number of the noun you’re referring to.

If you’re pointing something out far away or in the past, use quella/quello (that). On the contrary, if you are referring to something or someone close to you, use questo/questa (this)

Indefinite pronouns in Italian

Indefinite pronouns are about generalization. They refer to people or things in a non-specific way, like “someone,” “everyone,” or “nothing.”

Indefinite Pronoun	Italian Example	English Translation
qualcuno someone	Qualcuno ha telefonato.	Someone called.
nessuno no one	Nessuno è venuto.	No one came.
tutti everyone	Tutti sono d’accordo.	Everyone agrees.
ognuno each one	Ognuno deve fare la sua parte.	Each one must do their part.
alcuni/alcune some (people)	Alcuni sono partiti ieri.	Some left yesterday.
qualcosa something	Ho bisogno di qualcosa da mangiare.	I need something to eat.
nulla/niente nothing	Non ho visto nulla.	I didn’t see anything.

How to use indefinite pronouns

Most indefinite pronouns in Italian are gender neutral, but some, like alcuni and alcune (someone), change to match the gender of the noun they refer to.

Alcuni studenti sono arrivati tardi. = Some (male) students arrived late.
Alcune studentesse sono arrivate tardi. = Some (female) students arrived late.

When using negative indefinite pronouns like nessuno (no one) or niente (nothing), double up on the negatives in Italian:

Non ho visto nessuno. = I didn’t see anyone.

Interrogative pronouns in Italian

If you’ve ever asked a question in Italian, chances are you’ve already met interrogative pronouns. These helpful Italian pronouns let you inquire about people or things.

Interrogative Pronouns	Italian Example	English Translation
chi who	Chi è il tuo migliore amico?	Who is your best friend?
che what	Che cosa vuoi mangiare?	What do you want to eat?
qual which	Quale film vuoi vedere?	Which movie do you want to see?
quanto/quanta/quanti/quante how much/how many	Quante persone sono qui?	How many people are here?

How to use interrogative pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are essential for constructing questions, and they’re pretty straightforward to use. The word order is very similar to English, so put the pronoun at the beginning of the sentence.

Che cosa fai? = What are you doing?
Chi è responsabile? = Who is responsible?

Use quale when you have a specific choice among options.

Quale vuoi? = Which one do you want?

Frequently asked questions about Italian pronouns

When learning how to speak Italian confidently, pronouns play an essential role in making your sentences clear and concise. However, some of them—especially object pronouns—can be among the most complex topics in Italian grammar.

Even when you think you’ve mastered them, it’s easy to still encounter common doubts. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions to help you navigate through the tricky aspects of Italian pronouns.

What are pronouns in Italian and why are they important?

Pronouns in Italian, as in other languages, are words that replace nouns (people, objects, or ideas) to avoid repetition and make sentences more fluid. They help you sound more natural and concise when speaking or writing.

Why do third-person pronouns in Italian (lui/lei/loro) seem more complicated?

Italian has some unique features in its third-person pronouns. Lei (she) is also used as a formal way to address someone, typically in professional or respectful situations:

Sono andato a Roma, e lei? = I went to Rome, and you?

Remember also that while egli/ella/essi (he/she/they) are grammatically correct, they are no longer used in current Italian. In daily conversations, Italians prefer to use lui/lei/loro.

What’s the difference between the pronouns lo and gli when talking about people or things?

Lo is a direct object pronoun used for masculine singular nouns (him/it).

Vedo lo studente. becomes Lo vedo. = I see the student./I see him.

Gli is an indirect object pronoun meaning “to him” or “to them.”

Dò il libro a Marco. (I give the book to Marco.) = Gli dò il libro. (I give him the book.)

Can I omit object pronouns in Italian?

No. While you can drop the Italian subject pronouns, you cannot omit object pronouns in Italian, as they are essential for the meaning of the sentence. Leaving them out would make your sentence incomplete or unclear.

For instance:

Lo vedo. = I see him.

Without lo, the sentence would lose its object and sound incomplete: Vedo. = I see (who?)

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