Skip to content
Italian · Verb · #9 most common

sapere

to know
to find out

Irregular2nd ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Presente

Current actions, habits, and general truths.

ioso
tusai
lui/leisa
noisappiamo
voisapete
lorosanno

Io so che domani pioverà.

I know that it will rain tomorrow.

Tu sai come arrivare alla stazione?

Do you know how to get to the station?

2.

Passato Prossimo

Recently completed actions with present relevance.

ioho saputo
tuhai saputo
lui/leiha saputo
noiabbiamo saputo
voiavete saputo
lorohanno saputo

Loro hanno saputo la verità solo ieri.

They found out the truth only yesterday.

Ho saputo che sei stato in Italia.

I learned that you were in Italy.

3.

Imperfetto

Ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, and background.

iosapevo
tusapevi
lui/leisapeva
noisapevamo
voisapevate
lorosapevano

Quando ero giovane, sapevo molte cose.

When I was young, I knew many things.

Lei sapeva che era importante studiare.

She knew that it was important to study.

4.

Futuro Semplice

Future events, predictions, and conjectures.

iosap
tusaprai
lui/leisap
noisapremo
voisaprete
lorosapranno

Domani saprò se ho passato l'esame.

Tomorrow I will know if I passed the exam.

Tu saprai la risposta fra poco.

You will know the answer soon.

5.

Condizionale Presente

Hypothetical outcomes, polite requests, and wishes.

iosaprei
tusapresti
lui/leisaprebbe
noisapremmo
voisapreste
lorosaprebbero

Se avessi tempo, saprei aiutarti.

If I had time, I would know how to help you.

Loro direbbero che saprebbero fare meglio.

They would say that they would know how to do better.

6.

Congiuntivo Presente

Doubt, opinion, desire, and necessity in subordinate clauses.

iosappia
tusappia
lui/leisappia
noisappiamo
voisappiate
lorosappiano

È importante che io sappia la verità.

It's important that I know the truth.

Spero che tu sappia cosa fare.

I hope that you know what to do.

7.

Congiuntivo Imperfetto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical se-clauses, and polite suggestions.

iosapessi
tusapessi
lui/leisapesse
noisapessimo
voisapeste
lorosapessero

Se solo sapessi come, ti aiuterei.

If only I knew how, I would help you.

Volevo che lui sapesse la situazione.

I wanted him to know the situation.

"sapere" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "sapere" regular or irregular in Italian?
"sapere" is an irregular Italian verb. It does not follow the standard 2nd conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
How do you conjugate "sapere" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "sapere" conjugates as: so, sai, sappiamo, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "sapere" in Italian?
In the Passato Prossimo, "sapere" conjugates as: ho saputo, hai saputo, abbiamo saputo, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "sapere" in Italian?
"sapere" (to know, to find out) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Italian.