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ITALIAN VERB

aspettare

to wait, to wait for

  • #36 most used
  • Regular -are verb
  • Past participle: aspettato
  • Gerund: aspettando

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Presente · now, habits and facts

  1. io I wait
  2. tu you wait
  3. lui, lei, Lei he/she waits
  4. noi we wait
  5. voi you all wait
  6. loro they wait

Past

Passato prossimo · finished actions: “ho parlato”

  1. io I waited
  2. tu you waited
  3. lui, lei, Lei he/she waited
  4. noi we waited
  5. voi you all waited
  6. loro they waited

Imperfect

Imperfetto · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. io I used to wait
  2. tu you used to wait
  3. lui, lei, Lei he/she used to wait
  4. noi we used to wait
  5. voi you all used to wait
  6. loro they used to wait

Future

Futuro semplice · plans and guesses

  1. io I will wait
  2. tu you will wait
  3. lui, lei, Lei he/she will wait
  4. noi we will wait
  5. voi you all will wait
  6. loro they will wait

Conditional

Condizionale · “would”, polite requests

  1. io I would wait
  2. tu you would wait
  3. lui, lei, Lei he/she would wait
  4. noi we would wait
  5. voi you all would wait
  6. loro they would wait

Present subjunctive

Congiuntivo presente · wishes, doubts, “che …”

  1. io (that) I wait
  2. tu (that) you wait
  3. lui, lei, Lei (that) he/she wait
  4. noi (that) we wait
  5. voi (that) you all wait
  6. loro (that) they wait

Imperative

Imperativo · requests and orders: tu, Lei, noi, voi

  1. tu wait!
  2. Lei wait! (formal)
  3. noi wait! (let’s)
  4. voi wait! (all of you)

How to use aspettare

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Aspetto l'autobus da venti minuti.

    I've been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes.

  2. Past

    Ti abbiamo aspettato fino alle nove.

    We waited for you until nine.

  3. Imperfect

    Aspettavo una tua telefonata.

    I was waiting for a call from you.

  4. Future

    Vi aspetteremo davanti al cinema.

    We'll wait for you in front of the cinema.

  5. Conditional

    Aspetterei ancora un po' prima di decidere.

    I'd wait a little longer before deciding.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Preferisco che mi aspetti qui.

    I'd rather you waited for me here.

  7. Imperative

    Aspetta un attimo, arrivo subito!

    Wait a moment, I'll be right there!

Good to know

  • Aspettare takes no preposition: aspetto il treno, ti aspetto. Aspettare un bambino is to be expecting a baby.

Where you hear aspettare

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Italian · Beginner Level 1

  • Ogni mattina aspetto gli studenti in cucina. Every morning I wait for the students in the kitchen.
  • Ieri ho aspettato il treno per venti minuti. Yesterday I waited twenty minutes for the train.
  • Domani sera ti aspetto per la cena, Laura. Tomorrow evening I'll be expecting you for dinner, Laura.

Italian · Beginner Level 2

  • Ogni mattina aspetto gli studenti in cucina. Every morning I wait for the students in the kitchen.
  • Ieri ho aspettato il treno per venti minuti. Yesterday I waited twenty minutes for the train.
  • Domani sera ti aspetto per la cena, Laura. Tomorrow evening I'll be expecting you for dinner, Laura.
28
My Father's Bread

Beginner Level 1 · Aspetta!

Needs a subscription 8
First Day in the Kitchen

Beginner Level 2 · Il tavolo tre aspetta!

Needs a subscription 14
Giulia's Visit

Beginner Level 2 · Ti aspetto alla stazione.

Needs a subscription 15
At the Station in Town

Beginner Level 2 · Aspettami lì. Arrivo.

Needs a subscription 30
Back to Fontelupo

Intermediate Level 1 · Perfetta. Ti aspetta. · Ti aspettavo.

Needs a subscription 4
Pietro on the Phone

Intermediate Level 2 · Ti aspetto. Buonanotte, Pietro.

Needs a subscription 15
Advice at Night

Intermediate Level 2 · Se fossi in te, non aspetterei.

Needs a subscription 28
Nunzia's Goodbye

Intermediate Level 2 · Ti aspetto a Natale.

Needs a subscription 29
The Drive North

Intermediate Level 2 · E tu? Pietro ti aspetta?

Needs a subscription 30
Pietro at the Fountain

Intermediate Level 2 · Ti ho aspettata tutta l'estate. · Ti ho aspettato. · Allora resta. Fontelupo ti aspettava.

Needs a subscription 27
Giulia's Decision

Intermediate Level 3 · Allora ti aspetto. Casa nostra è grande!

Needs a subscription 11
The Snow Begins

Advanced Level 2 · Allora aspettiamo. Intanto, un caffè caldo.

Needs a subscription

And 9 more lessons.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: regular -are verb.