Innamorato di lei: Meaning, Grammar, and Natural Usage
How do you express deep affection in Italian? When you want to say that someone is deeply in love with a woman, the phrase "innamorato di lei" is what you need. This common Italian expression beautifully conveys a deep romantic feeling. Learning to use innamorato di lei correctly is essential for anyone wanting to speak like a native speaker and truly understand Italian emotions. In this article, we will explore its meaning, master its grammar, and see how to use it in everyday conversations.
Table of Contents
- What does “Innamorato di lei” mean?
- The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Mistakes
- Real Examples with “Innamorato di lei”
- Related Words and Expressions
- Conclusion
What does “Innamorato di lei” mean?
- Innamorato: Adjective or past participle of the verb "innamorarsi." It indicates the state of someone who feels love for someone else. It comes from the Latin "in amor."
- Di: Simple preposition. It introduces the object of specification or, in this context, the person who is the object of love.
- Lei: Third-person feminine singular personal pronoun, direct or indirect object. Refers to the woman to whom the feeling is directed.
- Overall meaning: Deeply attracted to or romantically fascinated by a specific woman, feeling a strong sense of love for her.
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The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Mistakes
- Adjective agreement: The adjective "innamorato" agrees in gender and number with the subject who feels the emotion.
innamorato(masculine singular): "Lui èinnamorato di lei."innamorata(feminine singular): "Lei èinnamorata di lui."innamorati(masculine plural): "Loro sonoinnamorati di lei." (if "loro" are men)innamorate(feminine plural): "Le ragazze sonoinnamorate di lui."
- Use of the preposition "di": The preposition "di" is required to indicate the person someone is in love with. No other prepositions are used. As explained on WordReference, the adjective "innamorato" always takes "di" to introduce the object of love.
- Common mistakes to avoid:
- Do not use "con" or "per": "Sono innamorato con lei" or "Sono innamorato per lei" are incorrect. The correct form is always "innamorato di."
- Do not confuse with "voler bene": "Voler bene" expresses deep affection, but not necessarily romantic. "Innamorato" always implies passionate and romantic love.
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Real Examples with “Innamorato di lei”
- Dialogue 1: Confidences between friends
- Person A: "Marco has changed his mind about Elisa? He always seems so happy when he sees her."
- Person B: "Yes, I think so. I really believe he’s
innamorato di lei, he never stops talking about her."
- Dialogue 2: A romantic surprise
- Person A: "Did you see the gift Luca gave her for their anniversary? A trip to Paris!"
- Person B: "Of course! It’s nothing new, he’s always been
innamorato di leisince the first day."
- Dialogue 3: A discussion about feelings
- Person A: "I don’t understand why he doesn’t decide to ask her to marry him, they’ve known each other for years."
- Person B: "Maybe he’s afraid, but it’s obvious he’s
innamorato di leimore than ever."
- Simple sentence:
- "Ever since he met her, he’s
innamorato di leiand only thinks about how to make her happy."
- "Ever since he met her, he’s
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Related Words and Expressions
| Related Expression | Brief Meaning | Example in Italian |
|---|---|---|
| Avere una cotta per | To have a crush on someone, initial attraction | "Penso che abbia una cotta per il suo collega." |
| Andare pazzo per | To feel a very strong love or attraction | "Roberto va pazzo per Anna, le compra sempre fiori." |
| Piacere a | To be liked by or to attract someone | "Maria piace molto a Giovanni, lui la trova simpatica e bella." |
| Amare | To feel love (more general, not only romantic) | "Io amo la mia famiglia e amo anche viaggiare molto." |
Conclusion
Understanding how to use innamorato di lei allows you to express complex feelings authentically. The agreement of the adjective and the use of the preposition "di" are the keys to talking about love correctly.
Now that you’ve learned this key expression, try using it! Share your sentence in the comments: who is innamorato di lei or of someone else in your life?