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pronoun

lei

she

Pronome usato per indicare una persona di sesso femminile oppure per rivolgersi a qualcuno in modo formale e gentile.

Definition & meaning

  • She / her: refers to a female person. As a subject, it often adds emphasis or contrast; as an object, it follows a preposition.
    • Lei lavora qui. — She works here.
    • Parlo con lei. — I’m speaking with her.
  • You: Lei, conventionally capitalized in writing, is the formal singular “you,” used when addressing someone politely. It takes a third-person singular verb.
    • Lei parla italiano. — You speak Italian.

Grammar & Word origin

Lei is a personal pronoun. It comes from Latin illī, a form of ille, meaning “that” or “he.”

Synonyms & antonyms

  • ella — “she”; more literary or formal and less common in everyday speech.
  • tu — “you”; used for informal singular address, unlike formal Lei.

Common phrases & collocations

  • con lei — with her; with you, formally.
  • per lei — for her; for you, formally.
  • dare del lei — to address someone formally.

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Examples

Lei beve un caffè caldo.pronoun

She drinks a hot coffee.

Lei è molto felice oggi.pronoun

She is very happy today.

Lei apre la porta.pronoun

She opens the door.

Lei ha un gatto nero.pronoun

She has a black cat.

Lei non viene a scuola.pronoun

She does not come to school.

Lei legge un libro.pronoun

She is reading a book.

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