Avere for age and common states
Italian often uses avere where English uses “to be,” especially for age and expressions like hunger or fear.
Examples
ItalianTranslation
Ho ventidue anni e ho fame.
I am twenty-two years old and I am hungry.
Abbiamo fretta oggi.
We are in a hurry today.
Lei ha sonno dopo il viaggio.
She is sleepy after the trip.
Pattern
avere + age/state expression
How it works
Italian often uses avere where English uses “to be,” especially for age and expressions like hunger or fear. This pattern typically appears as avere + age/state expression and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- Age is normally expressed with avere, not essere.
- Many physical or emotional states also use avere in fixed expressions.
Why it matters
Build the basic descriptive structures that appear in every first reading.
Use in context
This is a high-frequency beginner topic because it appears immediately in self-introduction and daily conversation.