Italian

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Etymology

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From Latin capiō (to take in, understand), from Proto-Italic *kapiō, from Proto-Indo-European *kh₂pyéti, from the root *keh₂p- (to seize, grab). Compare Galician, Spanish, and Portuguese caber (to fit) and Catalan capir (to understand).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /kaˈpi.re/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -ire
  • Hyphenation: ca‧pì‧re

Verb

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capìre (first-person singular present capìsco, first-person singular past historic capìi, past participle capìto, auxiliary avére)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) to understand [auxiliary avere]
    Synonyms: comprendere, intendere, afferrare
    ho capito quello che voleva direI understood what he meant
    capisci?do you understand?
  2. (rare, intransitive, figurative) to fit, to be contained [auxiliary avere]
    Synonyms: entrare, starci
    • né mi potrà più capir nel pensiero ch’in animo celeste possa accendersi desiderio carnale
      nor will it be able to fit in my thoughts any more that carnal desire can be kindled in a heavenly soul
      (T. Tasso)

Conjugation

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Including lesser-used forms:

Derived terms

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Descendants

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Anagrams

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