potere
/poˈte.re/
In Italian, 'can' is expressed by the verb potere.
potere is used to express the ability to do something or to express permission. When you want to say that 'can' implies having the knowledge or skill to perform a task, you should use the verb sapere instead. For expressing physical or acquired abilities and skills, the verb riuscire is also often used.
Meaning: to be able to, to know how to (verb)
Which one should you use?
Use potere for ability or permission. Use sapere when 'can' means 'know how to' regarding a specific skill.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
potere is a modal verb, which means it is typically followed directly by an infinitive verb without a preposition. It is a regular -ere verb. In the present indicative, the first-person singular form (used with the pronoun 'io') is posso, the second-person singular form (used with 'tu') is puoi and the third-person singular form (used with 'he/she/it') is può.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /poˈte.re/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The verb potere is the ancestor of the English word 'power', as both derive from the same root expressing ability or control.
- When asking for permission politely, Italians often use the conditional form potrei instead of the present tense posso. Using the conditional makes the request sound much softer and more elegant.
- In Italian, the word potere is used as a noun to mean 'power' or 'authority' as well as a verb. For example, the phrase al potere means 'in power'.
Examples in context
- Sa di potere vincere.He knows he can win.This sentence shows how to express the idea of knowing one's ability to win using potere.Tatoeba #7663808 by Guybrush88, translation #7405833 by CH
- Spera di potere vincere.He hopes that he can win.This sentence shows how to express the hope of being able to win using potere.Tatoeba #8279582 by Guybrush88, translation #7404404 by CH
- Pensa di potere vincere.He thinks he can win.This sentence shows how to express the thought of being able to win using potere.Tatoeba #8292678 by Guybrush88, translation #7405598 by CH
- Posso andare al bagno?Can I go to the bathroom?
- Lei può farmi un favore?Can you do me a favor?
- Potete fornire maggiori dettagli?Can you provide more details?
- Cosa riesci a fare per aiutarmi?What can you do to help me?
- Non riescono a trovare l'indirizzo.They can't find the address.
- 60 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- MatteoPossiamo andare a mangiare la pizza?Can we go eat pizza?
- ChiaraSì, ma non credo di potere uscire ora.Yes, but I don't think I can go out now.
- MatteoPerché non puoi?Why can't you?
- ChiaraDevo finire di lavorare per un'ora.I have to finish working for one hour.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “can” translations and entries potere, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries potere, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
