The Italian Verb Files

AVERE

The first verb of The Italian Verb Files is, of course, AVERE!

AVERE means “to have” in English. It is one of the most commonly used Italian verbs and part of many Italian expressions.

In addition to that, it is also ESSENTIAL to making many verb tenses! This makes it a must-know for everyone learning Italian.

So how do we conjugate AVERE? How is it used? Let’s take a look!

Italian Verb Conjugation Table - "AVERE"

Click to download for FREE! — Italian Verb Conjugation AVERE – The Italian Verb Files

This Italian Verb Conjugation Chart with AVERE shows you the most common verb tenses (3 more subjunctive verb tenses not on here).

I like to use it as a reference sheet and I give it to my students too!

Italian Expressions with "Avere"

The Italian verb AVERE is used for many expressions. Many of these express feelings or physical states:

avere caldo = to be hot
avere freddo = to be cold
avere fame = to be hungry
avere sete = to be thirsty
avere sonno = to be sleepy
avere fretta = to be in a hurry
avere ragione = to be correct
avere torto = to be incorrect
avere paura (di) = to be afraid (of)
avere bisogno (di) = to need
avere voglia (di) = to want to
avere intenzione (di) = to intend to

*Note that these expressions are not directly translated with the verb “to have” in English.

When used in expressions the verb AVERE can be translated in a number of different ways.

Take a look at some more examples below and fun AVERE idioms!

Other common expressions with AVERE

avere luogo = to take place
avere inizio = to begin
avere importanza = to be important
avere da fare = to be busy

Using AVERE to say a person's age

Another important use of the Italian verb AVERE is… AGE!

To say a person’s age in Italian, you use the sentence structure: avere _____ anni.

Example: I am 45 years old. = Ho 45 anni.

The boy is 4 years old. = Il ragazzo ha 4 anni.

Italian Idioms with the verb "Avere"

As you can imagine, there are plenty of Italian idioms that use AVERE.

Take a look at this list and see which ones you can start incorporating into your Italian repertoire!

avere molto sale in zucca (literally: to have a lot of salt in your pumpkin) = to be smart / have good common sense
avere gli occhi più grandi dello stomaco (literally: to have eyes bigger than one’s stomach) = to not be able to finish the food you have taken because you took too much
avere culo (literally: to have arse / butt) = to be very lucky
non avere peli sulla lingua (literally: to not have hair on one’s tongue) = to say it like it is / speak bluntly
avere un cervello di gallina (literally: to have a hen’s brain) = to not be intelligent
avere le braccine corte (literally: to have short arms) = to be stingy
avere il dente avvelenato (literally: to have a poisonous tooth) = to hold a grudge / resentment
avere le mani legate (literally: to have one’s hands tied) = to have one’s hands tied (not be able to do anything about a situation)
avere la botta piena e la moglie ubriaca (literally: to have a full bottle of wine and a drunk wife) = to have your cake and eat it too (to have it all)
avere un chiodo fisso in testa (literally: to have a nail stuck in one’s head) = to be obsessed with something
avere le mani bucate (literally: to have holes in your hands) = to be frivolous with money
avere la borsa piena (literally: to have a full purse) = to be rich
avere le scatole piene (literally: to have full boxes) = to be fed up
avere un diavolo per capello (literally: to have a devil for hair) = to be furious
avere le madonne (literally: to have the Madonnas) = to be in a bad mood
avere nulla da spartire (literally: to have nothing to share) = to have nothing in common
avere il diavolo addosso (literally: to have the devil on you) = to be fidgety
avere del matto (literally: to have some crazy) = to seem a bit crazy
avere (qualcuno) sulla bocca (literally: to have someone on the mouth) = to talk about someone a lot
avere (qualcuno) sullo stomaco (literally: to have someone on one’s stomach) = to not like someone
non avere a che fare con qualcuno (literally: to not have do with someone) = to not have anything to do with someone
avere per la testa (literally: to have something for the head) = to have something in your head
avere grilli per la testa (literally: to have crickets in your head) = to have silly / unrealistic thoughts
avere l’acquolina in bocca (literally: to have water in one’s mouth) = to be drooling / to have a mouth that is watering

Wow! I know that seems like a lot of expressions! Rather than trying to learn them all at once, take a couple and practice using them. After you have mastered those, grab a couple more!

Did I miss an expression with AVERE that you like? Let me know! I will add it to the list!

Looking for more Italian verbs and expressions? Check out these other Italian Verb Files posts! –>