How to use “senza”: Italian grammar lesson 87

Start here

You’ll receive my free resources together with my best offers! Opt out at any time.

Create a free lifetime account to get access to all the free lesson and other resources.

I’ll take you to your shiny new student dashboard.

What is senza in Italian?

Senza comes from the Latin word absentia, which means absence. So, if you think about it, it makes sense since both senza and without mean in the absence of.

Senza can either be followed by a noun (for instance, a person or a thing) or by a verb in the infinitive.

If you look at the sentences below, you’ll see that in the first case, senza is followed by a noun and, in the second case, by a verb.

Mi piace il caffè senza zucchero.

I like coffee without sugar.

Esci senza fare rumore.

Get out without making any noise.

How to use senza

How to use senza + noun?

As we mentioned above, senza can be followed by a noun.

Let’s have a look at some more examples:

La vita è più semplice senza problemi.

Life is simpler without problems.

Siamo usciti senza i bambini.

We went out without the children.

La città è più tranquilla senza traffico.

The city is quieter without traffic.

How to say without in Italian

How to use senza + verb?

Senza can also be followed by a verb. It’s similar in English when we use without + a verb ending in -ing.

Have a look at the sentences below:

Sei sparito senza dire niente.

You disappeared without saying anything.

Potete stare qui senza fare rumore.

You can stay here without making any noise.

Puoi vivere in Germania senza conoscere la lingua.

You can live in Germany without knowing the language.

Senza meaning Italian

How to use senza + di + pronoun?

When senza is followed by a personal pronoun (me, te, lui/lei, noi, voi, loro) we can say senza di.

You will notice that Italians, when speaking colloquially, usually say senza + personal pronoun and is not considered a mistake but is not encouraged in formal scenarios.

Free Guide
How to Learn Languages Fast

Have a look at the sentences below:

Non voglio andare a casa senza di lei.

I don’t want to go home without her.

Vado in vacanza senza di loro.

I’m going on holiday without them.

How to use senza in Italian

Still translating in your head? Wanna speak Italian for real? Check out Stefano's courses to think directly in Italian and become fluent fast!

FAQs on How to use “senza”: Italian grammar lesson 87

Stefano

Italian language tutor, course author, and polyglot. After learning 12 languages, I can tell you that we all master languages by listening and mimicking. With my method, you'll be speaking Italian from Lesson 1.

Follow me to fluency​

Receive my free resources once a week together with my best offers! 

Create a free lifetime account to get access to all the free lesson and other resources.

I’ll take you to your shiny new student dashboard.

4 Responses

  1. Some additional useful phrases using senza:
    senza speranza adjective
    hopeless

    senza problemi adjective
    without problems

    senza limiti adjective
    without limits, limitless

    senza motivo adverb
    for no reason, unjustifiable

    senza fretta adverb
    no hurry, leisurely

    senza dubbio adverb
    no doubt, certainly, doubtless, definitely, rather

    senza fiato adjective
    breathless

    senza senso adjective
    nonsense, meaningless, pointless

    senza nome adjective
    nameless

    senza fine adjective
    endless, unending

  2. Hi Stefano, you mean that colloquially people say for instance senza me but the grammatically correct form to use is senza di me? Thanks!

    1. Ciao Julia!

      Yes. You will notice that Italians, when speaking colloquially, usually say senza + personal pronoun and is not considered a mistake but is not encouraged in formal scenarios.

      Please let us know if you have any other questions or doubts about it.

Leave a Reply

Share:

Still translating in your head?

Wanna speak Italian for real? Check out Stefano’s courses to think directly in Italian and become fluent fast!
[mwai_chatbot_v2 id="support"]
Try my courses
for free​
ripeti con me mockup sm

Let me show you around

How long to fluency?

Find out how long it will take you to master Italian!
Get on the right track in 3 minutes.

dolce vita logo

We're already friends!

Coming from Luca and Marina?
Here's a special deal for you!
Just tell me where I should send the coupon.

50% OFF
all language resources

We're already friends!

Coming from All Language Resources?
Here's a special deal for you!
Just tell me where I should send the coupon.

50% OFF
GRAB A COUPON NOW, REDEEM IT LATER
50% OFF

To receive free resources once a week together with my best offers, just tell me where to send everything. Opt out at any time.

Create a free lifetime account to get access to all the free lesson and other resources.

I’ll take you to your shiny new student dashboard.