Italian · Everyday Verbs

"to put" in Italian: mettere

mettere

Say it: MEHT-teh-rehverb/ˈmet.te.re/

To put in Italian is mettere (MEHT-teh-reh). Io metto, tu metti, lui/lei mette. Past participle is messo / messa.

Keys

Metto le chiavi sul tavolo.
I put the keys on the table.
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How to pronounce mettere

Say it

MEHT-teh-reh

/ˈmet.te.re/

Mettere stresses MEHT: MEHT-teh-reh. Double t. Metto is MEHT-toh.

"to put" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
mettereto put / place

Objects, plans.

metto / metti / metteI put / you put / he-she puts

Present singular.

messo / messaput (past)

Past participle.

mettere viato put away

Tidying.

How to use mettere in real life

  1. 1Keys

    Metto le chiavi sul tavolo.

    I put the keys on the table.

    Metto.

  2. 2Asking help

    Metti le borse in cucina, per favore.

    Put the bags in the kitchen, please.

    Metti.

  3. 3Looking for a book

    Hai messo il libro nello zaino?

    Did you put the book in the backpack?

    Messo.

Mistakes English speakers make with mettere

Incorrect: Io mettere la borsa qui.

Correct: Metto la borsa qui.

Conjugate: io metto.

Incorrect: Ho mettuto il piatto.

Correct: Ho messo il piatto.

Past participle is messo.

Good to know

Mettere is the Swiss-army verb of Italian flats—put here, put away, put on a pot. You'll hear metti un attimo constantly.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Unpacking groceries

  1. ChatPal

    Dove metto il latte?

    Where do I put the milk?

  2. You

    Mettilo in frigo. Io metto la frutta sul tavolo.

    Put it in the fridge. I'll put the fruit on the table.

  3. ChatPal

    Ok. Hai già messo la pasta nello scaffale?

    Ok. Have you already put the pasta on the shelf?

  4. You

    Sì, fatto.

    Yes, done.

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"to put" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to put" in Italian

How do I say I put?

Metto.

Past participle?

Messo / messa.

Put away?

Mettere via.

You put (tu)?

Metti.

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