Italian · Everyday Verbs
"to wash" in Italian: lavare
lavare
To wash in Italian is lavare (lah-VAH-reh). Io lavo, tu lavi, lui/lei lava. Lavarsi le mani means to wash your hands.
Kitchen duty
Lavo i piatti dopo cena.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce lavare
Say it
lah-VAH-reh
/laˈva.re/
Lavare stresses VAH: lah-VAH-reh. Lavo is LAH-voh.
"to wash" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| lavare | to wash Infinitive. | Infinitive. |
| lavo / lavi / lava | I wash / you wash / he-she washes Present singular. | Present singular. |
| lavarsi | to wash oneself Hands, face, shower habits. | Hands, face, shower habits. |
| lavato | washed Past participle. | Past participle. |
How to use lavare in real life
- 1Kitchen duty
Lavo i piatti dopo cena.
I wash the dishes after dinner.
Lavo.
- 2Parent reminder
Lava le mani prima di mangiare.
Wash your hands before eating.
Lava.
- 3Laundry day
Hai già lavato le magliette?
Have you already washed the T-shirts?
Lavato.
Mistakes English speakers make with lavare
Incorrect: Io lavare i piatti.
Correct: Lavo i piatti.
Conjugate: io lavo.
Incorrect: Metto i vestiti nella lavatrice. (as the verb wash)
Correct: Lavo i vestiti. / Li metto in lavatrice.
Lavatrice is the machine; lavare is the verb.
Good to know
Lavare i piatti is the classic post-dinner bargain. Public bathrooms still post lavarsi le mani signs after COVID habits stuck.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
After cooking together
ChatPal
Lavo io le padelle?
Shall I wash the pans?
You
Sì, e io lavo i bicchieri.
Yes, and I'll wash the glasses.
ChatPal
Poi laviamo anche il tavolo.
Then we'll also wash the table.
You
Perfetto, così finiamo prima.
Perfect, so we finish sooner.
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 wash" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to wash" in Italian
How do I say I wash?
Lavo.
Wash your hands?
Lavati le mani / lava le mani.
Past?
Ho lavato.
Lavare vs lavatrice?
Lavare is the verb; lavatrice is the washing machine.
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
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