sentire
/senˈti.re/
To hear in Italian is expressed as sentire or udire.
Meaning: to perceive sounds through the ear (verb)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| sentire | /senˈti.re/ |
| udire | /uˈdi.re/ |
Both words mean to perceive sounds through the ear. In modern spoken Italian, sentire is the standard verb for the physical act of hearing. However, sentire is a versatile word that can also mean to feel, smell or sense.
Which one should you use?
While udire specifically means to hear, sentire is much more common and can also mean to feel, smell or sense.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of sentire is /senˈti.re/. It has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may mistakenly use ascoltare (to listen) when they simply mean the passive ability to hear (sentire).
Did you know?
- You can use sentire to mean 'to sense' or 'to have a feeling' about a situation, such as 'sentire che qualcosa non va' (to feel that something is wrong).
- The word udire descends from the Latin 'audīre', which is the ancestor of the English word 'audio'.
- The verb udire is so formal and literary that using it in a casual cafe might make you sound like a character from an ancient epic.
Examples in context
- Tom ti può sentire.Tom can hear you.This sentence is useful for showing how to use sentire to indicate someone's ability to hear a person.Tatoeba #7265627 by Guybrush88, translation #1868439 by CK
- Non lo può sentire.She can't hear him.This sentence is useful for showing the negative form of sentire in the context of hearing someone.Tatoeba #8985475 by Guybrush88, translation #8520980 by CH
- Non la può sentire.He can't hear her.This sentence is useful for showing the negative form of sentire with a different feminine object.Tatoeba #9924272 by Guybrush88, translation #8520979 by CH
- Voglio sentire il parere degli esperti.I want to hear the experts' opinion.
- Ho udito la sua testimonianza in tribunale.I heard his testimony in court.
- È possibile udire una leggera statica in sottofondo.It's possible to hear a slight static in the background.
- Senti come canta bene!Listen to how well he/she sings!
- Ho sentito che stai cercando un nuovo lavoro.I heard you are looking for a new job.
- 438 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Matteo are talking in a noisy cafe.
- SofiaNon riesco a sentire bene.I can't hear very well.
- MatteoOra mi puoi sentire, Sofia?Can you hear me now, Sofia?
- SofiaSì, ora ti sento.Yes, I hear you now.
- MatteoOttimo, allora parliamo qui.Great, then let's talk here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hear” translations and entries sentire, udire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sentire, udire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
