esso
/ˈes.so/
In Italian, 'it' can be expressed using several forms such as esso, essa, lo or la.
Meaning: subject, inanimate thing (pron)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| esso | /ˈes.so/ |
| essa | /ˈes.sa/ |
| lo | /lo/ |
| la | /la/ |
The word 'it' is used to refer to inanimate things. In many contexts, the subject pronouns for 'it', which are esso and essa, are omitted entirely because the verb conjugation makes the subject clear.
Which one should you use?
The direct object pronoun lo is used to represent a masculine inanimate object and la is used to represent a feminine inanimate object.
How does it change in a sentence?
When acting as a direct object, use lo for masculine inanimate objects and la for feminine inanimate objects.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/ˈes.so/', 'syllables': 2, 'stressed_syllable': '1 of 2'}
Did you know?
- While English uses 'it' as a dummy subject in sentences like 'it is raining', Italian often removes the subject entirely or uses a different structure.
- The pronouns esso and essa are derived from the Latin words ipsum and ipsa, which were originally used for emphasis.
- While esso and essa are the direct translations for 'it', using them as subjects in spoken conversation is very rare and can sound overly formal or like a textbook.
Examples in context
- Non è la mia.It isn't mine.This example shows how to use the feminine direct object pronoun la.Tatoeba #3349015 by Guybrush88, translation #42378 by CK
- È lui. Lo so.He is the one. I know it.This example shows the use of the masculine direct object pronoun lo.Tatoeba #3875862 by Guybrush88, translation #2740206 by Hybrid
- Lo dia a Tom.Give it to Tom.Tatoeba #4979196 by Guybrush88, translation #2261869 by CK
- Come si dice "hello" in italiano?How do you say "hello" in Italian?
- Puoi aiutarmi con la pronuncia, per favore?Can you help me with the pronunciation, please?
- Potresti ripetere, per favore?Could you repeat that, please?
- Mi dispiace, non ho capito.I'm sorry, I didn't understand.
- Grazie mille per l'aiuto!Thank you very much for your help!
- Cosa mi consigli di vedere qui?What do you recommend I see here?
- 5448 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are looking at a mysterious object.
- FrancescoCos'è questo oggetto?What is this object?
- SofiaPenso che esso sia un antico fermacarte.I think it is an ancient paperweight.
- FrancescoSembra molto pesante.It looks very heavy.
- SofiaSì, esso è fatto di pietra.Yes, it is made of stone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “it” translations and entries esso, essa, lo, la, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries essa, esso, la, lo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
