verb

offrire

offer

Dare qualcosa a qualcuno per gentilezza, aiuto o cortesia.

Definition & meaning

Offrire is an irregular Italian verb meaning “to offer”. It is used when someone presents something for acceptance, gives something willingly, or makes something available.

Its main meanings are:

To offer or present something
- Offrire un regalo — to offer a gift.
- Offrire il proprio aiuto — to offer one’s help.
To pay for something, especially food or drinks
- Ti offro un caffè — I’ll buy you a coffee.
- Ha offerto la cena a tutti — He paid for dinner for everyone.
To provide or make available
- Il museo offre visite guidate — The museum offers guided tours.
- Questo lavoro offre molte opportunità — This job offers many opportunities.
To sacrifice or devote oneself
- Offrire la propria vita — to sacrifice one’s life.
- Offrirsi volontario — to volunteer, literally “to offer oneself.”
To make an offer or bid
- Offrire mille euro — to offer one thousand euros.
- Offrire un prezzo più alto — to offer a higher price.

Grammar & Word origin

Offrire is a transitive verb of the third conjugation ending in -ire. It usually takes the auxiliary avere in compound tenses.

It is irregular in several forms:

Present: offro, offri, offre, offriamo, offrite, offrono
Past participle: offerto
Gerund: offrendo

Examples:

Io offro — I offer / I am offering
Ho offerto — I offered / I have offered
Offrendo — offering

The reflexive form offrirsi means “to offer oneself,” “to volunteer,” or, in some contexts, “to be available.”

The verb comes from the Latin offerre, meaning “to bring before,” “to present,” or “to offer.” It is formed from ob- (“toward, before”) and ferre (“to carry, bring”).

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

proporre — “to propose” or “to suggest.” It is more specific than offrire when presenting an idea, plan, or possibility.
dare — “to give.” It is broader and does not necessarily imply that the recipient can accept or refuse.
donare — “to donate” or “to give as a gift.” It emphasizes generosity and usually implies no expectation of payment.
fornire — “to provide” or “to supply.” It is common for services, materials, information, or resources.
presentare — “to present” or “to submit.” It emphasizes formally showing or submitting something.
invitare — “to invite.” It can overlap with offrire when inviting someone to eat or drink, but it focuses more on the invitation than on paying.

Antonyms

rifiutare — “to refuse” or “to reject,” the most direct antonym when someone declines an offer.
negare — “to deny” or “to refuse to grant,” especially a request, permission, or resource.
sottrarre — “to take away” or “to withhold,” contrasting with making something available.
ritirare — “to withdraw,” including withdrawing an offer that was previously made.