bere
/ˈbe.re/
The English verb 'drink' is translated into Italian as bere.
Bere is the most general and commonly used verb for the action of consuming liquid through the mouth. It is suitable for formal contexts.
Meaning: consume liquid through the mouth (verb)
Which one should you use?
While bere is the standard modern form, bevere is an archaic/literary form of the verb. Assumere can be used to mean 'to drink' in a formal context, often in professional or medical settings.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb bere conjugates in the present indicative as follows: bevo for 'I drink', beve for 'he/she drinks' and bevano for 'they drink'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbe.re/, with the stress on the first of two syllables.
Did you know?
- The Italian word bere is a cognate of the Hindi word pīnā and the Irish ibh, tracing back to a shared prehistoric root.
- While bere is the general term, Italians often use fare un aperitivo to describe the social ritual of drinking pre-dinner cocktails.
- The Italian expression bere come spugne means 'to drink like sponges', describing someone who consumes huge quantities of liquid.
Examples in context
- Mi versi da bere.Pour me a drink.This sentence shows how to use bere when asking for something to drink.Tatoeba #3334201 by Guybrush88, translation #3334025 by CK
- A lei piace bere.She likes to drink.This sentence uses bere to express a preference.Tatoeba #5071054 by Guybrush88, translation #3401191 by AlanF_US
- Si versò da bere.She poured herself a drink.This sentence uses bere to describe someone pouring a drink for themselves.Tatoeba #8962992 by Guybrush88, translation #7382891 by CH
- Mi scusi, posso bere qualcosa?Excuse me, may I have something to drink?
- Devi assumere un bicchiere d'acqua prima dei pastiYou need to drink a glass of water before meals
- Mi piace sorseggiare una tazza di tè nel pomeriggioI enjoy sipping a cup of tea in the afternoon
- 823 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Chiara are at a cafe.
- LorenzoVuoi bere qualcosa di fresco?Do you want to drink something cold?
- ChiaraSì, vorrei bere un succo d'arancia.Yes, I would like to drink an orange juice.
- LorenzoOttima scelta, lo ordino subito.Great choice, I'll order it right away.
- ChiaraGrazie, Lorenzo!Thank you, Lorenzo!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drink” translations and entries bere, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bere, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
