Spiegare Conjugation in Italian
spiegare means “to explain” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Italian learners meet — it sits at number 81 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Italian verbs. It is the everyday verb for explaining something to someone, and it is completely regular apart from its spelling: the -gare stem keeps its hard g by inserting h before e and i, so the tu form is spieghi and the future is spiegherò. Use it whenever you make something clear to another person, in class, at work or at home. This page gives you the complete conjugation of spiegare — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “Io spiego la lezione ogni giorno.” — “I explain the lesson.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: spiegare
- English: to explain
- Verb type: Regular -are verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: spiegando
- Present participle: spiegante
- Past participle: spiegato
- Auxiliary: avere (all perfect tenses are formed with avere + the past participle)
- Ending: -are verbs; pattern are in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for spiegare, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Learn the spelling of the forms first, and listen to a native speaker for the sounds rather than trusting an invented transcription. The forms below are the ones that matter: once you can read spiegare in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about spiegare
- It is regular: every form follows the ordinary -are pattern, so once you know the stem you can build the whole table. The only work is learning the endings, not memorising exceptions. The -gare stem keeps its hard g by inserting h before e and i, so the tu form is spieghi and the future is spiegherò.
- The perfect tenses use avere: the passato prossimo is formed with avere in the present plus the past participle spiegato. The tables on this page give the participle in the masculine singular form, exactly as it appears in the verified dump; agreement with the subject is a separate step that depends on the sentence, not on the verb table.
- The participles are spiegante and spiegato: keep both in mind as you read the tables, because the present participle appears as an adjective and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. If you know those two forms and the present tense, you already know the skeleton of the whole conjugation.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for spiegare. Learn the present tense first, then the passato prossimo and the imperfect, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative (presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | spiego |
| tu | spieghi |
| lui/lei | spiega |
| noi | spieghiamo |
| voi | spiegate |
| loro | spiegano |
The present indicative is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Io spiego la lezione ogni giorno.” — “I explain the lesson”
Passato remoto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | spiegai |
| tu | spiegasti |
| lui/lei | spiegò |
| noi | spiegammo |
| voi | spiegaste |
| loro | spiegarono |
The passato remoto is used for completed actions in the distant past, mostly in written and literary Italian and in the south of Italy. For example: “Io spiegai la lezione ieri.” — “I explained the lesson”
Imperfect (imperfetto)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | spiegavo |
| tu | spiegavi |
| lui/lei | spiegava |
| noi | spiegavamo |
| voi | spiegavate |
| loro | spiegavano |
The imperfect is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Io spiegavo la lezione una volta.” — “I used to explain the lesson”
Future (futuro semplice)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | spiegherò |
| tu | spiegherai |
| lui/lei | spiegherà |
| noi | spiegheremo |
| voi | spiegherete |
| loro | spiegheranno |
The future is used for what will happen, for predictions and for probability. For example: “Io spiegherò la lezione domani.” — “I will explain the lesson”
Conditional (condizionale)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | spiegherei |
| tu | spiegheresti |
| lui/lei | spiegherebbe |
| noi | spiegheremmo |
| voi | spieghereste |
| loro | spiegherebbero |
The conditional is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Io spiegherei la lezione un giorno.” — “I would explain the lesson”
Present perfect (passato prossimo)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | ho spiegato |
| tu | hai spiegato |
| lui/lei | ha spiegato |
| noi | abbiamo spiegato |
| voi | avete spiegato |
| loro | hanno spiegato |
The passato prossimo is used for completed actions in the past, especially in spoken Italian. For example: “Lui ha spiegato la lezione questa settimana.” — “He has explained the lesson”
Pluperfect (trapassato prossimo)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | avevo spiegato |
| tu | avevi spiegato |
| lui/lei | aveva spiegato |
| noi | avevamo spiegato |
| voi | avevate spiegato |
| loro | avevano spiegato |
The pluperfect is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Io avevo spiegato la lezione prima della festa.” — “I had explained the lesson”
Future perfect (futuro anteriore)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | avrò spiegato |
| tu | avrai spiegato |
| lui/lei | avrà spiegato |
| noi | avremo spiegato |
| voi | avrete spiegato |
| loro | avranno spiegato |
The future perfect is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Io avrò spiegato la lezione per domani.” — “I will have explained the lesson”
Conditional perfect (condizionale passato)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | avrei spiegato |
| tu | avresti spiegato |
| lui/lei | avrebbe spiegato |
| noi | avremmo spiegato |
| voi | avreste spiegato |
| loro | avrebbero spiegato |
The conditional perfect is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Io avrei spiegato la lezione ieri.” — “I would have explained the lesson”
Present subjunctive (congiuntivo presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | spieghi |
| tu | spieghi |
| lui/lei | spieghi |
| noi | spieghiamo |
| voi | spieghiate |
| loro | spieghino |
The present subjunctive is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after che. For example: “È importante che io spieghi la lezione.” — “It is important that I explain the lesson”
Imperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | spiegassi |
| tu | spiegassi |
| lui/lei | spiegasse |
| noi | spiegassimo |
| voi | spiegaste |
| loro | spiegassero |
The imperfect subjunctive is used in the past for wishes and hypotheticals after che, and in if-clauses. For example: “Era importante che io spiegassi la lezione.” — “It was important that I explain the lesson”
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | spiega |
| lui/lei | spieghi |
| noi | spieghiamo |
| voi | spiegate |
| loro | spieghino |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Spiega la lezione!” — “Explain the lesson!”
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | spiegare |
| lui/lei | spieghi |
| noi | spieghiamo |
| voi | spieghiate |
| loro | spieghino |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Non spiegare la lezione.” — “Do not explain the lesson.”
Gerund
| Form | Italian |
|---|---|
| Gerund | spiegando |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with stare for the progressive. For example: “Spiegando la lezione, imparo molto.” — “While explaining the lesson, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Italian |
|---|---|
| Present participle | spiegante |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle spiegante is used to describe something that is happening at the same time as the main action, much like an English -ing adjective.
Past participle
| Form | Italian |
|---|---|
| Past participle | spiegato |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Io ho spiegato la lezione questa settimana.” — “I have explained the lesson.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with spiegare, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Italian and try to produce it from the English.
- “Io spiego la lezione ogni giorno.” — “I explain the lesson”
- “Tu spiegasti la lezione ieri.” — “You explained the lesson”
- “Lui spiegava la lezione una volta.” — “He used to explain the lesson”
- “Io spiegherò la lezione domani.” — “I will explain the lesson”
- “Tu spiegheresti la lezione un giorno.” — “You would explain the lesson”
- “Lui ha spiegato la lezione questa settimana.” — “He has explained the lesson”
- “Io avevo spiegato la lezione prima della festa.” — “I had explained the lesson”
- “Tu avrai spiegato la lezione per domani.” — “You will have explained the lesson”
- “È importante che io spieghi la lezione.” — “It is important that I explain the lesson”
- “Spiega la lezione!” — “Explain the lesson!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Io spiegare la lezione.”
✓ Right: “Io spiego la lezione ogni giorno.”
The infinitive spiegare never takes a subject. After io you need the conjugated present form spiego.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Io spieghi la lezione.”
✓ Right: “Io spiego la lezione ogni giorno.”
spieghi is the tu form, not the io form. Match the verb to the subject every time: io goes with spiego.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Io spiego la lezione ieri.”
✓ Right: “Io ho spiegato la lezione questa settimana.”
Yesterday points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the passato prossimo ho spiegato for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the passato prossimo
✗ Wrong: “Io sono spiegato la lezione.”
✓ Right: “Io ho spiegato la lezione questa settimana.”
The passato prossimo of spiegare is formed with avere plus the past participle spiegato: the io form is ho spiegato. Check the auxiliary in the table above before you build a perfect tense.
5. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “È importante che io spiego la lezione.”
✓ Right: “È importante che io spieghi la lezione.”
After è importante che Italian needs the subjunctive, so use spieghi here, not the indicative spiego.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Io ho spiegando la lezione.”
✓ Right: “Io ho spiegato la lezione questa settimana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle spiegato, not the gerund spiegando. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on spiegare. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the io form of spiegare in the Present indicative?
- A) spieghi
- B) spiego
- C) spiega
- D) spieghiamo
What is the lui/lei form of spiegare in the Passato remoto?
- A) spiegai
- B) spiegasti
- C) spiegò
- D) spiegammo
What is the noi form of spiegare in the Imperfect?
- A) spiegavo
- B) spiegavi
- C) spiegava
- D) spiegavamo
What is the tu form of spiegare in the Future?
- A) spiegherai
- B) spiegherò
- C) spiegherà
- D) spiegheremo
What is the io form of spiegare in the Conditional?
- A) spiegheresti
- B) spiegherei
- C) spiegherebbe
- D) spiegheremmo
What is the lui/lei form of spiegare in the Present perfect (passato prossimo)?
- A) ho spiegato
- B) hai spiegato
- C) ha spiegato
- D) abbiamo spiegato
What is the lui/lei form of spiegare in the Present subjunctive?
- A) spieghiamo
- B) spieghiate
- C) spieghino
- D) spieghi
What is the io form of spiegare in the Imperfect subjunctive?
- A) spiegassi
- B) spiegasse
- C) spiegassimo
- D) spiegaste
What is the gerund of spiegare?
- A) spiegato
- B) spiegando
- C) spiegare
- D) spiego
What does spiegare mean in English?
- A) to answer
- B) to ask
- C) to explain
- D) to tell
Answer key
- B) spiego — the correct form is spiego. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) spiegò — the correct form is spiegò. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) spiegavamo — the correct form is spiegavamo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) spiegherai — the correct form is spiegherai. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) spiegherei — the correct form is spiegherei. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) ha spiegato — the correct form is ha spiegato. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) spieghi — the correct form is spieghi. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) spiegassi — the correct form is spiegassi. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) spiegando — the correct form is spiegando. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to explain — the correct form is to explain. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does spiegare mean in English?
spiegare means “to explain”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is spiegare regular or irregular?
spiegare is regular: it follows the ordinary -are pattern in every tense. The gerund is spiegando and the past participle is spiegato.
What are the gerund and past participle of spiegare?
The gerund is spiegando — use it with stare for the progressive. The past participle is spiegato — use it with avere for the perfect tenses, as in ho spiegato.
Which auxiliary does spiegare take in the passato prossimo?
spiegare takes avere in the passato prossimo: the io form is ho spiegato. All four perfect tenses on this page are built with avere plus the past participle spiegato.
How do I say “I explain” in Italian?
Say “Io spiego la lezione ogni giorno.” — “I explain the lesson” The io form of the present is spiego, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of spiegare — every tense of spiegare in one place.
- Spiegare in the present tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Spiegare examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice questions for this verb.
- Italian present tense guide — the full guide to the present tense in Italian.
- Domandare conjugation — another everyday Italian verb.
- Raccontare conjugation — another everyday Italian verb.
- Italian verbs — the full hub of Italian conjugation pages.
- VerbFlow home — all languages, tools and verb lists.
- Verb Conjugator — practise spiegare with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise spiegare with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise spiegare with the interactive tool.