bere
/ˈbe.re/
The Italian phrase for "to drink" is bere.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular present indicative form of bere is bevo (I drink), and the third-person singular present indicative form is beve (he/she drinks). The past participle is bevuto.
How do you pronounce it?
bere is pronounced /ˈbe.re/. The stress is on the first of the two syllables.
When do people say it?
In Italy, ordering a cappuccino after breakfast may be met with raised eyebrows as it is considered a morning beverage.
Did you know?
- The Italian word bere is a cognate of the Hindi word pīnā and the Irish word ibh, sharing a common ancient ancestor.
- While bere is the general verb, Italians often use prendere meaning 'to take' when ordering a drink in a cafe.
- To describe someone as a bevitore does not just mean they drink, but often implies they are a heavy drinker or an alcoholic.
Examples in context
- A lei piace bere.She likes to drink.This sentence shows the use of bere to express a preference.Tatoeba #5071054 by Guybrush88, translation #3401191 by AlanF_US
- Tu cosa vuoi bere?What do you want to drink?This sentence uses bere to ask about a choice of drink.Tatoeba #2828365 by Guybrush88, translation #400184 by sysko
- Decisi di non bere.I decided not to drink.This sentence uses bere to express a decision regarding drinking.Tatoeba #3491615 by Guybrush88, translation #3058019 by CM
- È importante ingerire abbastanza liquidiIt is important to drink enough fluids
- Si consiglia di consumare vino durante il pastoIt is recommended to drink wine during the meal
- Prendiamo un caffè insieme?Shall we have a coffee together?
- 535 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are sitting in a café.
- MartinaMatteo, cosa vuoi bere?Matteo, what do you want to drink?
- MatteoVorrei bere una birra fresca.I would like to drink a cold beer.
- MartinaOttima idea, ordino subito.Great idea, I will order right away.
- MatteoGrazie, sei molto gentile.Thanks, you are very kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 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.
