Italian · Everyday Verbs
"to look / to watch" in Italian: guardare
guardare
To look or to watch in Italian is guardare (gwar-DAH-reh). Present forms include io guardo, tu guardi, lui/lei guarda. Guarda! means look! Guardare un film is to watch a movie.
Street view
Guarda quel negozio a sinistra!Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce guardare
Say it
gwar-DAH-reh
/ɡwarˈda.re/
Guardare stresses DAH: gwar-DAH-reh. Guardo is GWAR-doh.
"to look / to watch" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| guardare | to look / to watch Core verb. | Core verb. |
| guardo / guardi / guarda | I look / you look / he-she looks Present singular. | Present singular. |
| Guarda! | Look! Attention grabber. | Attention grabber. |
| guardare un film | to watch a movie Common object. | Common object. |
How to use guardare in real life
- 1Street view
Guarda quel negozio a sinistra!
Look at that shop on the left!
Guarda as a command.
- 2Streaming night
Stasera guardo un documentario.
Tonight I'm watching a documentary.
Guardo for I watch.
- 3Checking a map
Guardi tu la mappa un secondo?
Will you look at the map a second?
Guardi for you.
Mistakes English speakers make with guardare
Incorrect: Io guardare la TV.
Correct: Io guardo la TV.
Conjugate: io guardo.
Incorrect: Sento il film. (for watch)
Correct: Guardo il film.
Sentire is hear/feel; watching uses guardare.
Good to know
Guarda is one of the most common spoken fillers when Italians point something out. On trains and buses you also hear Guarda che bello. For look like (resemble), use sembrare, not guardare.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a series on the couch
ChatPal
Guardi ancora quel giallo?
Are you still watching that mystery?
You
Sì, stasera guardo il terzo episodio.
Yes, tonight I'm watching the third episode.
ChatPal
Allora guardiamo insieme sul divano.
Then let's watch together on the sofa.
You
Ok, ma non guardare gli spoiler online!
Ok, but don't look at spoilers online!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to look / to watch" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to look / to watch" in Italian
Guardare vs vedere?
Guardare is look/watch with attention; vedere is see (perceive).
How do you say look at me?
Guardami.
Watch TV?
Guardare la TV / la televisione.
Is guarda rude?
No—it's normal. Tone softens it.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- How to Learn Italian Fast and Speak with ConfidenceLearn how to learn Italian with a clear roadmap, speaking-first tactics and daily habits that turn basics into real conversation confidence.
- Translate Hello in Italian with ConfidenceLearn how to translate hello in Italian with context, pronunciation, and practice prompts. Master ciao, buongiorno, buonasera, and salve for real conversations.
