sposare
/spoˈza.re/
The Italian verb for 'marry' is sposare.
The verb sposare is used to express the act of marrying a specific person.
Meaning: to be joined in marriage (verb)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between sposare and the reflexive form sposarsi. While sposare means to marry someone (a transitive action), sposarsi is used to mean 'to get married' (the intransitive act of the couple entering into marriage).
How does it change in a sentence?
sposare is a transitive verb that takes a direct object. This means you marry someone directly without using a preposition.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable: /spoˈza.re/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use sposare to mean 'to get married' (describing the event for a couple), but sposare specifically focuses on the person being married by another.
Did you know?
- The verb sposare shares an ancient root with the English word 'spouse', both tracing back to the Latin 'sponsāre', which originally meant to pledge or promise.
- In traditional Italian culture, the act of sposarsi was historically linked to the corredo, a vast collection of linens and clothes the bride spent years preparing.
- The verb sposare is also used in a figurative sense to mean 'embracing' or 'adopting' an idea, a cause or a philosophy.
Examples in context
- Non può sposare Tom.You can't marry Tom.This sentence shows how to express that someone cannot marry a specific person using sposare.Tatoeba #6138049 by Guybrush88, translation #1954653 by CK
- Non la vuole sposare.He doesn't want to marry her.This sentence demonstrates expressing a lack of desire to marry a female subject using sposare.Tatoeba #8947815 by Guybrush88, translation #8522095 by CH
- Non lo voglio sposare.I don't want to marry him.This sentence shows how to express a lack of desire to marry a male subject using sposare.Tatoeba #5987306 by Guybrush88, translation #3912405 by CH
- Voglio sposarmi con te.I want to marry you.
- 107 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are discussing their future plans.
- LorenzoVuoi sposare me?Do you want to marry me?
- MartinaSì, voglio sposare te!Yes, I want to marry you!
- LorenzoQuando vogliamo sposare l'altro?When do we want to marry each other?
- MartinaForse l'anno prossimo, Lorenzo.Maybe next year, Lorenzo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry sposare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sposare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
