Italian grammar · Beginner · Lesson 6
Avere Conjugation: Italian To Have in the Present
Learn ho, hai, ha, abbiamo, avete, and hanno, including Italian expressions for age, hunger, and thirst.
Updated October 10, 2026 · Free lesson and exercises
Use avere for possession
Avere means to have. Its present forms are irregular, and four begin with a silent h: ho, hai, ha, and hanno. The letter matters in writing even though you do not pronounce it.
Express age and physical needs
Italian uses avere where English often uses be: ho venti anni means I am twenty, ho fame means I am hungry, and ho sete means I am thirsty. Do not translate these phrases word by word from English.
Recognize its auxiliary role
Avere combines with a past participle to form the passato prossimo for many verbs: ho mangiato means I ate or have eaten. Learn the present forms first; later you can reuse the same set to discuss completed actions.
Avere: present indicative
| Subject | Form | English |
|---|---|---|
| io | ho | I have |
| tu | hai | you have |
| lui / lei / Lei | ha | he / she / polite you has or have |
| noi | abbiamo | we have |
| voi | avete | you have, plural |
| loro | hanno | they have |
The h in ho, hai, ha, and hanno is silent. Abbiamo and avete have no h.
See the pattern in a sentence
Ho una domanda.
I have a question.
Avere introduces something you have.
Abbiamo fame.
We are hungry.
Italian says we have hunger.
Mia sorella ha venti anni.
My sister is twenty years old.
Age uses avere plus a number and anni.
Common mistakes to notice
To fix: Io o un libro.
Use: Io ho un libro.
Ho is the verb; o without h means or.
To fix: Sono fame.
Use: Ho fame.
Hunger is expressed with avere, not essere.
Try it yourself
Say or write an answer before opening the explanation.
1. Complete: tu ___ tempo?
Show answer and explanation
Tu hai tempo?
Tu takes hai.
2. Say we are thirsty.
Show answer and explanation
Abbiamo sete.
Sete is paired with avere.
3. Complete: loro ___ due cani.
Show answer and explanation
Loro hanno due cani.
Keep the silent h in hanno.
Use it in a conversation
Say your age, name two things you have, and ask a friend whether they are hungry or thirsty.
Read the examples aloud, then try your own sentences. In ChatPal, practice a real scenario and get personalized feedback on what you say.
Practice Italian out loudFAQ
Questions about this pattern
Is the h in ho pronounced?
No. It distinguishes ho from o, hai from ai, ha from a, and hanno from anno in writing.
How do I say I am hungry?
Say ho fame. For I am thirsty, use ho sete.
Do all past-tense verbs use avere?
No. Many use it, but some use essere, and reflexive verbs use essere in the passato prossimo. Learn the auxiliary with the verb.
Keep building your sentences
- Essere Conjugation: Italian To Be in the Present
- Italian Passato Prossimo: Avere or Essere + Past Participle
Words to practice with
References and corrections
Original explanations and practice examples for beginners. References help check the grammar; this page covers the patterns shown rather than every exception.