Which one should you use?
While guardare is the standard verb for the action of looking or watching, Italian speakers often use vedere when the focus is on the perception or the result of seeing. Additionally, if you want to express the idea of 'look' as an interjection to quickly attract someone's attention, you might use guarda qui! or the informal senti.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
guardare is a transitive verb. This means it connects directly to its object without a preposition. You guardare qualcosa (look at something).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɡwarˈda.re/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying guardare a when you mean 'to look at'. English speakers often mistakenly add the preposition 'a' because of the English phrase 'look at', but guardare is used directly with the object.
Did you know?
- The verb guardare shares an unexpected ancestor with the English word 'ward', as both come from the idea of keeping watch or guarding.
- When someone says Guarda che…, they are often not just saying 'Look that…', but are using it as a warning similar to 'Watch out that…' in English.
- If you are staring intently at something, you might use the verb fissare, which carries a much stronger and sometimes more uncomfortable connotation than simply guardare.
Examples in context
- Io so dove guardare.I know where to look.This sentence shows how to use guardare to indicate the target of one's gaze.Tatoeba #2580226 by Guybrush88, translation #2376455 by CK
- Non lo può guardare.You can't look at that.This sentence demonstrates the use of guardare with a direct object.Tatoeba #4707729 by Guybrush88, translation #3728001 by CM
- Può guardare il mio?Can you look at mine?This sentence shows how to use guardare in a question regarding a direct object.Tatoeba #9739041 by Guybrush88, translation #9482475 by DJ_Saidez
- Ti prego di guardare questa presentazione.Please look at this presentation.
- Potremmo osservare attentamente il fenomeno prima di trarre conclusioni.We could look closely at the phenomenon before drawing conclusions.
- Guarda quel tramonto!Look at that sunset!
- Ho appena comprato un nuovo libro, vuoi dare un'occhiata?I just bought a new book, do you want to take a look?
- Fai attenzione a quella porta, è molto pesante.Look out for that door, it's very heavy.
- Sto osservando il paesaggio dalla finestra.I'm looking at the landscape from the window.
- Sei in grado di vedere quell'uccello?Can you see that bird?
- Guarda quella montagna magnifica!Look at that magnificent mountain!
- 139 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are at an art gallery.
- MartinaGuarda quel quadro, Francesco!Look at that painting, Francesco!
- FrancescoSì, è bellissimo.Yes, it is beautiful.
- MartinaVuoi guardare anche la scultura?Do you want to look at the sculpture too?
- FrancescoSì, andiamo a guardare.Yes, let's go look.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “look” translations and entries guardare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries guardare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
