How to say need (avere bisogno): Italian grammar lesson 24

Learn the Italian words for “to need”: bisognare and avere bisogno di! Let’s take a look at the differences between the two with simple rules, examples, Italian-to-English phrases, and exercises.

Start here

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

How to say need in Italian: avere bisogno di and bisognare

The English verb “need” is often translated in Italian with either the impersonal verb bisognare or the verbal expression avere bisogno di: avere + bisogno + di + noun/verb.

Let’s take a closer look at the differences between the two.

avere bisogno di

Bisognare: meaning, when to use and examples

Bisognare is exclusively used as an impersonal verb (meaning that it does not need a grammatical subject).

It exists just in simple tenses (simple future, simple conditional, etc..) and is used only in the third person singular: bisogna.

An infinite verb always follows it when the subject is not identified.

to need in italian

Let’s look at some sentences to see when it’s suitable to use the verb bisognare.

  • To express a need or an obligation for some action to be performed, when there is no subject (it refers to a general rule or something that applies to everyone).
    In this case, bisognare is followed by a verb in the infinitive form:

Bisogna fare silenzio al cinema durante il film.

It is necessary to be quiet at the cinema during the movie.

  • To express a need or an obligation for some action to be performed, when a subject is determined. In this case, bisognare is followed by che + subjunctive

Bisogna che gli studenti si impegnino di più.

It is necessary that the students work harder.

bisogno italian to english

Avere bisogno di: meaning, when to use and examples

The verbal expression avere bisogno di can be broken down as follows:

The verb avere: it is conjugated as usual according to the mood and tense which fit the sentence

+ the noun bisogno

+ preposition di

+ a noun that indicates the object or person that is needed or a verb in the infinitive form that indicates the action that needs to be performed.

how to say i need in italian

Note on the verb avere: like other frequently used verbs, avere is an irregular verb, meaning that it does not follow the same pattern as other second conjugation verbs and presents many different forms for each tense.

Note on the preposition di: when di is followed by a verb (in the infinitive form), it is always left as is.

For nouns instead, it might be left as is or conjugated according to the noun immediately following it.

It is left as is if the noun requires no article or if it requires an indefinite article. It is conjugated if the noun requires a definitive article.

In that case, one of the following seven forms is used: del, dello, dei, degli, della, delle, or dell’.

bisogno meaning

Avere bisogno di: Examples

How to use bisogno in Italian?

Free Guide
How to Learn Languages Fast

How to say “I need” in Italian?

Let’s look at some sentences to see when it’s suitable to use the expression avere bisogno di.

  • With a noun, to express the need for something (physical)

Ho bisogno di una macchina nuova.

I need a new car.

  • With a noun, to express the need for something (abstract or metaphorical)

Noi abbiamo bisogno del tuo aiuto.

We need your help.

  • With a verb, to express the need to do something

Ho bisogno di fare una vacanza.

I need to go on a vacation.

  • With the pronouns me/te/lui/lei/noi/voi/loro.

Hai bisogno di me?

Do you need me? (= do you need my help?)

italian verb to need

Practice with Quizlet

Here's a set of flashcards and quizzes to practice this grammar topic.

Need in Italian: what to remember?

If you’re looking for how to say “need” in Italian, you have two options: the impersonal verb ‘bisognare’ or the verbal expression ‘avere bisogno di.

When using ‘bisognare‘, it’s exclusively used as an impersonal verb (meaning it doesn’t need a grammatical subject) and only exists in simple tenses (like simple future and simple conditional).

It’s always used in the third person singular: ‘bisogna’ and it’s usually used to express a need or an obligation for some action to be performed.

The expression ‘avere bisogno di’ is broken down into the verb ‘avere’, the noun ‘bisogno’, and the preposition ‘di’.

The verb ‘avere’ is conjugated according to the mood and tense of the sentence, and the preposition ‘di’ can be left as is or conjugated depending on the noun that follows it.

This expression is used to express the need for something physical, the need for something abstract or metaphorical, or the need to do something.

We hope this helps you better understand the difference between these two ways of saying “need” 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 say need (avere bisogno): Italian grammar lesson 24

What is the Italian verb to need?

The verb bisognare has become obsolete except in its third person form, bisogno. It is used in combination with avere and di to form the phrase 'avere bisogno di…', which means 'to have a need for…'.

How do you use Bisogna?

Bisogna is an efficient and impartial way to discuss what needs to be done. An example of using Bisogna in a conversation between two housemates might be: Bisogna acquistare il caffè!

What is the difference between serve and bisogno?

“Mi serve” is an Italian phrase which translates to “I need”. This phrase uses the verb servire (to need) to express a requirement for something which will enable someone to reach a goal or finish a task, instead of just a physical necessity like avere bisogno di.

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! No need to look around, just tell me where to send everything.

Follow me to fluency

Receive my free resources once a week together with my best offers! No need to look around, just tell me where to send everything.

Opt out at any time.

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!
Try my courses for free​
ripeti con me mockup sm

Let me show you around

Overcome your Barriers

Anything holding you back from becoming fluent?
Get on the right track today with my free checklist!

pain learning languages checklist preview
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.