The Verb Avere in Italian: Ho, Hai, Ha (All 6 Forms + How to Say Your Age)
A0 · Lesson 13 · The verb avere
Six forms, one silent letter, and the reason Italians say “I have 35 years”.
Quick answer
The Italian verb avere means to have: ho (I have), hai (you have), ha (he / she has), abbiamo (we have), avete (you all have), hanno (they have). The H is silent. Italians use avere for age: Ho 35 anni (I am 35), never Sono 35.
I have, you have, he / she has: ho, hai, ha
Three short words. Notice the H at the start: you see it, you never say it.
io ho
EE-oh OH
I have
Metu hai
too EYE
you have (one friend)
Informallui / lei ha
LOO-ee / LAY AH
he has / she has
Him / her💡 In simple words
ho = “oh!” (like when you’re surprised). hai = “eye”. ha = “ah”. That’s it.
Polite “you” works like he / she: Signora, Lei ha un cane? (Madam, do you have a dog?)
We have, you all have, they have: abbiamo, avete, hanno
noi abbiamo
noy ahb-BYAH-moh
we have
Usvoi avete
voy ah-VEH-teh
you all have
You allloro hanno
LOH-roh AHN-noh
they have
Themabbiamo has a double B: hold it a tiny bit longer, ahb-BYAH-moh. hanno has a double N: AHN-noh.
The whole verb avere in one table
All six together. Read them out loud three times, then cover the page and say them from memory.
io · I
ho
OH · I have
tu · you
hai
EYE · you have
lui / lei · he / she
ha
AH · he / she has
noi · we
abbiamo
ahb-BYAH-moh · we have
voi · you all
avete
ah-VEH-teh · you all have
loro · they
hanno
AHN-noh · they have
Like with essere, Italians usually drop io and tu: Ho un cane. Hai figli?
The silent H and its look-alikes
In Italian, H makes no sound at all. So why is it there? To tell twins apart in writing.
ho · o
OH · oh
ho = I have · o = or
Hai un cane o un gatto? Do you have a dog or a cat?
ha · a
AH · ah
ha = has · a = at / to / in
Marco ha un gatto a Roma. Marco has a cat in Rome.
hanno · anno
AHN-noh · AHN-noh
hanno = they have · anno = year
Hanno un anno. They are one year old.
Same sound, different meaning. With H = a form of avere. Without H = a little word.
A hotel in Italy? Italians say “otel”. The H is silent there too.
How old are you? Age with avere
This is the big one. English says “I am 35″. Italian says “I have 35 years”.
💡 In simple words
English: I am 40. → Italian: I have 40 years. → Ho quarant’anni!
Never Sono 40. And never forget anni (years) at the end.
Quanti anni hai?
KWAHN-tee AHN-nee EYE
How old are you? (to a friend)
tuQuanti anni ha?
KWAHN-tee AHN-nee AH
How old are you? (polite) / How old is he, she?
LeiHo 35 anni.
OH trehn-tah-CHEEN-kweh AHN-nee
I am 35 (years old).
Answer
🎂 Gli italiani dicono…
Tanti auguri! (TAHN-tee ow-GOO-ree) = Happy birthday! Literally “many wishes”. You can also say Buon compleanno! (bwohn kohm-pleh-AHN-noh).
🌍 Did you know?
Spanish (tengo 35 años), French (j’ai 35 ans) and Polish (mam 35 lat) also “have” their years. English is the odd one out!
What you have: Ho un cane, non ho un gatto
Pets, kids, brothers and sisters: avere is the verb for all of them. Swap the teal words.
Ho un cane.
OH oon KAH-neh
I have a dog.
YesNon ho un gatto.
nohn OH oon GAHT-toh
I don’t have a cat.
NoHai figli?
EYE FEE-lyee
Do you have kids?
QuestionHo due figli.
OH DOO-eh FEE-lyee
I have two kids.
Answer
Saying “no” works like everywhere else: non before the verb. More in Italian negative sentences.
In real life: a birthday party in Bologna
Spot every form of avere: ho, hai, ha, hanno.
Luca
birthday boy
Ciao! Oggi ho quarant’anni!
Hi! Today I’m forty!
you
Tanti auguri! Hai figli?
Happy birthday! Do you have kids?
Luca
birthday boy
Sì, ho due figli. Hanno sei e otto anni.
Yes, I have two kids. They are six and eight.
you
E un cane?
And a dog?
Luca
birthday boy
No, non ho un cane. Giulia ha un gatto!
No, I don’t have a dog. Giulia has a cat!
Common mistakes with the verb avere
Common mistakes English speakers make
Sono 35 anni. → Ho 35 anni.
Age always uses avere. “I am 35 years” sounds very strange to Italians.
Ho 35. → Ho 35 anni.
Add anni (years): it’s the full, safe answer.
HAH-noh (hanno) → AHN-noh
The H is silent. Always.
Hai un cane ho un gatto? → Hai un cane o un gatto?
o (or) has no H. ho with H means I have.
Abbiamo tre anni. Abbiamo tante uova. Non abbiamo un piano. (We’re three. We have lots of eggs. We don’t have a plan.)
Step 9 · Practice
🍕 Your turn
Start with a quick warm-up, then press Check. Want more? Open the extra exercises below. Mistakes are part of it. No pressure.
Warm-up · 5 questions
Choose the right form of avere.
1. Io ___ un cane.
2. Tu ___ figli?
3. Marco ___ 40 anni.
4. Noi ___ un gatto.
5. Loro ___ due figli.
See more exercises · 46 questions ▾Hide the extra exercises ▴
1 · Ho, hai, ha, abbiamo, avete or hanno?
Choose the form that matches the person.
1. Voi ___ un cane?
2. Giulia ___ 25 anni.
3. Io e Anna ___ due gatti.
4. Paolo e Giulia ___ 70 anni.
5. (tu) Quanti anni ___?
6. Signore, Lei ___ figli? (polite)
7. (io) Non ___ un gatto.
8. Tu e Marco ___ figli?
9. Loro non ___ un cane.
10. Noi ___ trent’anni.
2 · Sound twins
With H or without H? Choose the right word.
1. ___ un cane. (I have)
2. Un cane ___ un gatto? (or)
3. Marco ___ un gatto. (has)
4. Sono ___ casa. (at)
5. Loro ___ due figli. (they have)
6. Buon ___! (Happy New Year)
7. Tu ___ Lei? (or)
8. Anna ___ 30 anni. (has)
3 · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct?
1. Ho 35 anni.
2. Sono 35 anni.
3. Quanti anni hai?
4. Non ho un gatto.
5. Io ha un cane.
6. Abbiamo due figli.
7. Ho 40.
8. Loro anno un cane.
4 · What do you say?
Choose the best sentence.
1. You want to ask a friend how old she is.
2. You ask an older gentleman (polite) how old he is.
3. It’s your friend’s birthday.
4. You are 28.
5. You don’t have a dog.
6. You ask two friends if they have kids.
5 · Write it in Italian
Type the sentence. Write numbers as digits (35) or words, both are fine.
1. I have a dog.
2. I don’t have a cat.
3. How old are you? (to a friend)
4. How old are you? (polite)
5. I am 35.
6. Do you have kids? (to a friend)
7. We have two kids.
8. They have a cat.
9. Marco is 40.
10. Happy birthday!
6 · Answer about you
You are Kate: 30 years old, one dog, no kids, no cat. Answer the questions as Kate.
1. Kate: Quanti anni hai?
2. Kate: Hai un cane?
3. Kate: Hai figli?
4. Kate: Hai un gatto?
New here? Try a 25-minute lesson for $25: book a trial. Not sure about your level? Take the free level test.
Ci vediamo la prossima settimana! – Sì, alla prossima lezione! Ciao!
See you next week! – Yes, see you at the next lesson! Bye!
← Previous lesson: A0 · 12 Italian negative sentences
Next lesson: A0 · 14 Essere or avere? →
Written by Luciana
Native Italian teacher, CEDILS certified, 10,000+ lessons since 2020.
