When you want to express joy or amusement, the verb to use in Italian is ridere. It means 'to laugh'.
For example, you can say: Rido per una barzelletta (I laugh at a joke).
If something is funny, you might say: Mi fa ridere! (It makes me laugh!).
You'll often hear people say: Stiamo ridendo un sacco! (We are laughing a lot!).
§ Understanding 'ridere'
Ciao a tutti! Today, we're going to break down the Italian verb 'ridere', which means 'to laugh'. It's an A1 level verb, so it's one of the first you'll learn, and it's super useful. Let's get straight to it.
- DEFINITION
- To make sounds of amusement.
Like all verbs, 'ridere' changes depending on who is doing the laughing and when they are doing it. It's a regular verb in the present tense, which makes it easier to conjugate.
§ Present Tense Conjugation of 'ridere'
- io rido (I laugh)
- tu ridi (you laugh - singular, informal)
- lui/lei ride (he/she laughs)
- noi ridiamo (we laugh)
- voi ridete (you laugh - plural, informal, or singular/plural formal)
- loro ridono (they laugh)
§ Using 'ridere' in Sentences
Here are some common ways to use 'ridere'. You'll see it often in everyday conversations.
Maria ride spesso.
Maria laughs often. (Here, 'ride' is for 'lei' - she)
Noi ridiamo sempre alle sue battute.
We always laugh at his jokes. (Here, 'ridiamo' is for 'noi' - we)
Tu ridi quando sei felice?
Do you laugh when you are happy? (Here, 'ridi' is for 'tu' - you singular)
§ Prepositions with 'ridere'
Sometimes, you'll need to use prepositions with 'ridere' to give more context. The most common one you'll encounter is 'di' when you are laughing *at* something or someone.
Loro ridono del film.
They laugh at the movie. ('del' is a contraction of 'di' + 'il')
Non ridere di me!
Don't laugh at me!
- GRAMMAR NOTE
- When 'ridere' is followed by 'di' and a person, it often implies laughing *at* someone in a possibly mocking way. Be mindful of this nuance!
You might also see 'ridere' used with 'per' to indicate the reason *for* laughing.
Lei ride per la gioia.
She laughs for joy.
§ Common Expressions with 'ridere'
It's always good to learn a few fixed expressions. They make you sound more natural!
- ridere a crepapelle: to laugh heartily, to laugh one's head off
- far ridere: to make someone laugh, to be funny
- ridere sotto i baffi: to laugh up one's sleeve (secretly)
Abbiamo riso a crepapelle tutta la sera.
We laughed our heads off all evening.
Quel comico fa sempre ridere.
That comedian always makes people laugh (is always funny).
Keep practicing these examples, and you'll be using 'ridere' like a pro in no time! Alla prossima!
§ Italian Verb: Ridere (To Laugh)
Let's learn about the Italian verb 'ridere'. It's a common and useful verb to know. This guide will show you how to use it correctly.
- Italian Word
- ridere (verb)
- CEFR Level
- A1
- Definition
- To make sounds of amusement.
§ How to Use Ridere
'Ridere' means 'to laugh'. It's a regular -ere verb, so its conjugations follow a predictable pattern. Let's look at some examples.
Lei ride sempre alle mie barzellette.
She always laughs at my jokes.
Noi ridiamo molto quando siamo insieme.
We laugh a lot when we are together.
§ Conjugation of Ridere (Present Tense)
Here’s a quick look at how 'ridere' is conjugated in the present tense:
- Io rido (I laugh)
- Tu ridi (You laugh - singular, informal)
- Lui/Lei/Lei ride (He/She/You laugh - singular, formal)
- Noi ridiamo (We laugh)
- Voi ridete (You laugh - plural)
- Loro ridono (They laugh)
Perché ridi?
Why are you laughing?
I bambini ridono rumorosamente.
The children laugh loudly.
§ Phrases with Ridere
'Ridere' is often used in common Italian phrases. Knowing these will help you sound more natural.
- Ridere di
- To laugh at (someone/something)
Non ridere di lui.
Don't laugh at him.
- Farsi una risata
- To have a laugh (literally, to make oneself a laugh)
Dobbiamo farci una risata ogni tanto.
We need to have a laugh now and then.
- Scompisciarsi dalle risate
- To laugh one's head off (literally, to wet oneself from laughter)
Mi sono scompisciato dalle risate guardando quel film.
I laughed my head off watching that movie.
§ Similar Words and When to Use Ridere vs. Alternatives
While 'ridere' is the main verb for 'to laugh', you might encounter other related words. Let's clarify when to use each.
- Sorridere
- To smile
This is different from 'ridere'. 'Sorridere' means to smile, which is a facial expression, usually without sound. 'Ridere' involves making sounds.
Lei sorride dolcemente.
She smiles sweetly.
- Risata (noun)
- A laugh
This is the noun form of 'ridere'. You use 'risata' when you're talking about the act of laughing as a thing.
Ho sentito una forte risata.
I heard a loud laugh.
So, 'ridere' is your go-to verb for 'to laugh'. If you're just showing amusement with your face, use 'sorridere'. When talking about the sound or action of laughing, 'risata' is the noun you need. Keep practicing, and you'll get these distinctions down quickly!
Dato curioso
This verb has remained remarkably similar in form and meaning across many Romance languages, like Spanish 'reír' and French 'rire'.
Guía de pronunciación
- Don't pronounce the 'e' at the end like the 'e' in 'bed'. It's more like the 'e' in 'café'.
Gramática que debes saber
Like many Italian verbs, 'ridere' conjugates regularly for present tense. For -ere verbs, the present tense endings are -o, -i, -e, -iamo, -ete, -ono.
Io rido. (I laugh.)
'Ridere' is an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. You laugh, you don't laugh something.
Lui ride spesso. (He laughs often.)
When used in compound tenses (like passato prossimo), 'ridere' uses 'avere' as its auxiliary verb.
Ho riso molto ieri. (I laughed a lot yesterday.)
'Ridere' can be followed by prepositions like 'di' (at/about) or 'con' (with).
Ridiamo di te. (We laugh at you.)
The past participle of 'ridere' is 'riso'.
Lei ha riso. (She laughed.)
Ejemplos por nivel
Il bambino ride.
The child laughs.
Noi ridiamo molto.
We laugh a lot.
Tu ridi sempre?
Do you always laugh?
Lui non ride mai.
He never laughs.
Voglio ridere con te.
I want to laugh with you.
Perché ridete?
Why do you laugh (plural)?
Lei ride piano.
She laughs softly.
È bello ridere.
It is nice to laugh.
I bambini ridono sempre quando guardano i cartoni animati.
The children always laugh when they watch cartoons.
Mi fa ridere la tua storia divertente.
Your funny story makes me laugh.
Non riesco a non ridere quando sono con te.
I can't help but laugh when I'm with you.
Ha iniziato a ridere senza motivo apparente.
He started to laugh for no apparent reason.
Ridere è un ottimo modo per scaricare lo stress.
Laughing is a great way to relieve stress.
Non ridere di me, per favore.
Don't laugh at me, please.
Gli amici si sono messi a ridere a crepapelle.
The friends burst out laughing.
Voglio ridere di più nella mia vita.
I want to laugh more in my life.
Mi fa sempre ridere quando racconta quella storia.
It always makes me laugh when he tells that story.
Here 'ridere' is used impersonally with 'fare' (to make).
Non riuscivo a smettere di ridere dopo aver visto il film comico.
I couldn't stop laughing after watching the comedy film.
'Smettere di' means 'to stop (doing something)'.
Abbiamo riso così tanto che ci facevano male le guance.
We laughed so much that our cheeks hurt.
The past participle of 'ridere' is 'riso'.
È importante saper ridere di se stessi di tanto in tanto.
It's important to be able to laugh at yourself from time to time.
'Di se stessi' is a reflexive pronoun phrase meaning 'at oneself'.
Il suo tentativo di ballare ha fatto ridere tutti i presenti.
His attempt at dancing made everyone present laugh.
Again, 'fare' is used with 'ridere'.
Anche nei momenti difficili, cerco sempre di trovare un motivo per ridere.
Even in difficult times, I always try to find a reason to laugh.
'Trovare un motivo per' means 'to find a reason to'.
Quando eravamo bambini, ci piaceva ridere e giocare nel parco.
When we were children, we liked to laugh and play in the park.
'Piacere' (to like) is used here in the imperfect tense.
Non c'è niente di più contagioso di una bella risata.
There's nothing more contagious than a good laugh.
'Risata' is the noun form of 'ridere' (a laugh).
Modismos y expresiones
"ridere a crepapelle"
to laugh out loud, to laugh heartily
Abbiamo riso a crepapelle per tutta la sera. (We laughed our heads off all evening.)
neutral"ridere sotto i baffi"
to laugh up one's sleeve, to chuckle to oneself (literally: to laugh under one's mustache)
Ha riso sotto i baffi quando ha visto il suo errore. (He chuckled to himself when he saw his mistake.)
neutral"far ridere i polli"
to be ridiculous, to make a fool of oneself (literally: to make the chickens laugh)
Con quel vestito fai ridere i polli! (With that outfit, you're a laughingstock!)
informal"ridere per non piangere"
to laugh to keep from crying
La situazione era così assurda che ho iniziato a ridere per non piangere. (The situation was so absurd that I started to laugh to keep from crying.)
neutral"non c'è niente da ridere"
it's no laughing matter
Questa è una cosa seria, non c'è niente da ridere. (This is a serious matter, it's no laughing matter.)
neutral"ridere alle spalle di qualcuno"
to laugh behind someone's back
Non mi piace che la gente rida alle mie spalle. (I don't like people laughing behind my back.)
neutral"una risata ti seppellirà"
a laugh will bury you (often said sarcastically to someone who is too serious)
Dai, rilassati! Una risata ti seppellirà. (Come on, relax! A laugh will bury you.)
informal"ridere di gusto"
to laugh heartily, to laugh with pleasure
Ha riso di gusto alla sua battuta. (He laughed heartily at his joke.)
neutral"ridere come un matto"
to laugh like crazy
Era così divertente che ridevamo come matti. (It was so funny that we were laughing like crazy.)
informal"farsi una risata"
to have a laugh
Andiamo al cinema a farci una risata. (Let's go to the cinema to have a laugh.)
neutralFamilia de palabras
Sustantivos
Verbos
Adjetivos
Cómo usarlo
Ridere is a regular -ere verb. It's used in Italian much like 'to laugh' is used in English. You'll often see it with direct or indirect object pronouns to indicate who or what is making someone laugh. For example, 'Mi fa ridere' literally means 'It makes me laugh.'
A common mistake is confusing 'ridere' with 'sorridere' (to smile). While related, 'ridere' implies a more audible and often more expressive act than 'sorridere'. Remember: you *ridere* out loud, but you *sorridere* silently.
Origen de la palabra
From Latin 'ridere'.
Significado original: To laugh, to smile.
Indo-European, Italic branch.Contexto cultural
When in Italy, you'll often hear 'ridere' used in everyday conversation. It's common to share a laugh with friends and family, and humor is a big part of Italian social interaction. Don't be afraid to laugh out loud!
Practica en la vida real
Contextos reales
Talking about emotions and reactions
- ridere di gioia (to laugh with joy)
- ridere per qualcosa (to laugh at something)
- far ridere (to make someone laugh)
Describing someone's personality
- una persona che ride molto (a person who laughs a lot)
- non ridere mai (never to laugh)
Reacting to a joke or funny situation
- che ridere! (how funny!)
- mi fa ridere (it makes me laugh)
In past tense, recalling a funny moment
- abbiamo riso tanto (we laughed a lot)
- ho riso per ore (I laughed for hours)
Giving instructions or suggestions
- non ridere! (don't laugh!)
- dovresti ridere di più (you should laugh more)
Inicios de conversación
"Cosa ti fa ridere di più?"
"Ti piace ridere spesso?"
"Qual è l'ultima volta che hai riso tanto?"
"C'è qualcosa che non ti fa mai ridere?"
"Pensi che ridere sia importante per la salute?"
Temas para diario
Scrivi di una situazione recente in cui hai riso molto. Cosa è successo?
Descrivi una persona che conosci che ride sempre. Come ti fa sentire la sua risata?
Pensa a un momento in cui hai riso di qualcosa di inaspettato. Qual è stata la tua reazione?
Scrivi di un modo in cui il ridere ti ha aiutato a superare un momento difficile.
Immagina una giornata ideale. Quante volte e per quali motivi rideresti?
Ponte a prueba 42 preguntas
Listen for 'she laughs'.
Listen for 'he does not laugh'.
Listen for 'Why do you all laugh?'.
Read this aloud:
Io rido.
Focus: rido
Dijiste:
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Read this aloud:
Tu ridi?
Focus: ridi
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Noi ridiamo.
Focus: ridiamo
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a short sentence saying that you like to laugh.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mi piace ridere.
Write a simple sentence describing someone laughing (e.g., 'He laughs').
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Lui ride.
Write a sentence saying 'We laugh a lot'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Noi ridiamo molto.
Cosa fanno Anna e Marco quando parlano?
Read this passage:
Anna e Marco sono amici. Loro ridono spesso quando parlano. A loro piace stare insieme e ridere.
Cosa fanno Anna e Marco quando parlano?
The passage says 'Loro ridono spesso quando parlano' (They often laugh when they talk).
The passage says 'Loro ridono spesso quando parlano' (They often laugh when they talk).
Perché la bambina ride?
Read this passage:
La bambina guarda un cartone animato. Il cartone è divertente e la bambina ride. Lei è felice.
Perché la bambina ride?
The passage states 'Il cartone è divertente e la bambina ride' (The cartoon is funny and the girl laughs).
The passage states 'Il cartone è divertente e la bambina ride' (The cartoon is funny and the girl laughs).
Cosa fanno Mario e i suoi amici?
Read this passage:
Mario è con i suoi amici. Loro raccontano barzellette. Tutti ridono molto. È una bella serata.
Cosa fanno Mario e i suoi amici?
The passage says 'Tutti ridono molto' (Everyone laughs a lot).
The passage says 'Tutti ridono molto' (Everyone laughs a lot).
Choose the correct past tense form of 'ridere' for 'Lei ___'.
The verb 'ridere' uses 'avere' as its auxiliary verb in the passato prossimo. So, 'Lei ha riso' is correct.
Which sentence correctly uses 'ridere' in the present tense?
The present tense conjugation for 'voi' (you all) is 'ridete'.
What is the infinitive form of 'ridono'?
'Ridere' is the infinitive form of the verb, meaning 'to laugh'.
The verb 'ridere' is conjugated with 'essere' in the passato prossimo.
'Ridere' is conjugated with 'avere' in the passato prossimo.
If someone makes you 'ridere', they are making you sad.
If someone makes you 'ridere', they are making you laugh, which is usually a positive emotion.
The word 'ridendo' is the gerund form of 'ridere', meaning 'laughing'.
'Ridendo' is indeed the gerund form of 'ridere', used to express an ongoing action.
Choose the best translation for 'She started to laugh loudly.'
To 'laugh loudly' is often translated as 'ridere a crepapelle' in Italian.
Which sentence correctly uses the past participle of 'ridere'?
The past participle of 'ridere' is 'riso'.
What does 'Non c'è niente da ridere' mean?
This common idiom translates directly to 'There's nothing to laugh about'.
The verb 'ridere' is always followed by the preposition 'di' when referring to laughing at someone or something.
Yes, when you laugh at someone or something, 'ridere' is usually followed by 'di', for example: 'ridere di qualcuno/qualcosa'.
You can use 'farsi ridere' to mean 'to make someone laugh'.
No, 'fare ridere' is the correct expression to mean 'to make someone laugh'. 'Farsi ridere' would mean 'to make oneself laugh' or 'to be laughed at'.
The imperative form for 'laugh!' (to one person) is 'ridi!'
Yes, 'ridi!' is the correct informal imperative form for 'you laugh!' (singular).
Choose the correct past participle of 'ridere'.
The past participle of 'ridere' is 'riso'. It's an irregular verb.
Quale frase usa 'ridere' correttamente in un contesto formale?
While all options use 'ridere' correctly, 'Il pubblico ha riso all'unisono' implies a more formal setting due to the collective action of 'the audience' and the use of 'all'unisono'. The other options are more conversational.
Which of these expressions implies laughing at someone in a negative way?
'Ridere alle spalle di qualcuno' means 'to laugh behind someone's back', which is negative. The other options imply positive or intense laughter.
The phrase 'ridere a crepapelle' means to laugh softly.
'Ridere a crepapelle' means 'to laugh your head off' or 'to laugh heartily', which is the opposite of softly.
In Italian, it's common to say 'fare ridere' to mean 'to make someone laugh'.
'Fare ridere' is a very common and correct way to express 'to make someone laugh' in Italian.
The verb 'ridere' is always used with the auxiliary verb 'essere' in compound tenses.
While 'ridere' can use 'essere' in some cases (e.g., 'essere scoppiato a ridere'), it commonly uses 'avere' in compound tenses, like 'ho riso'.
Nonostante la situazione fosse tesa, il suo commento inaspettato ci ha fatto tutti ___.
The context implies a sudden change in mood due to a surprising comment, making 'ridere' (to laugh) the most appropriate verb to complete the sentence.
Era difficile non ___ quando raccontava le sue barzellette, per quanto fossero spesso di cattivo gusto.
The sentence describes a situation where someone's jokes, even if bad, provoke a common reaction. 'Ridere' (to laugh) fits this context perfectly.
Il pubblico ha iniziato a ___ fragorosamente quando l'attore è inciampato sul palco.
An actor stumbling on stage typically elicits laughter from the audience. 'Ridere' (to laugh) is the correct verb here.
Non ho potuto fare a meno di ___ vedendo la sua faccia buffa dopo aver assaggiato il limone.
A 'buffa faccia' (funny face) after tasting a lemon is a classic scenario for someone to laugh. 'Ridere' is the logical choice.
La commedia era così esilarante che tutti nel teatro non riuscivano a smettere di ___.
An 'esilarante commedia' (hilarious comedy) causes people to laugh uncontrollably. 'Ridere' (to laugh) is the appropriate verb.
Nonostante le mie preoccupazioni iniziali, il loro modo spensierato di affrontare la situazione mi ha fatto ___.
A 'spensierato modo' (carefree way) of handling a situation, especially when initially worried, often leads to amusement and laughter. 'Ridere' fits the context.
Nonostante la situazione fosse grave, non potei fare a meno di ___ per sdrammatizzare un po'.
Il contesto suggerisce l'azione di sdrammatizzare, il che è spesso associato al ridere in situazioni difficili.
Il comico, con le sue battute argute, riusciva a far ___ l'intera platea a crepapelle.
Far ridere a crepapelle significa far ridere molto intensamente, il che si addice a un comico.
Non mi aspettavo di ___ così tanto durante quel film drammatico, ma la comicità involontaria era irresistibile.
La comicità involontaria è ciò che provoca il ridere, anche in un contesto drammatico.
La sua capacità di ___ di se stesso lo rende una persona molto più autentica e avvicinabile.
Ridere di se stessi è un segno di autoironia e autenticità.
Nonostante la tensione, un piccolo scherzo fece ___ tutti, allentando l'atmosfera pesante.
Uno scherzo serve a far ridere e a rilassare l'ambiente.
Quando sentii quella battuta, non potei fare a meno di ___ di gusto, una risata liberatoria.
Una battuta divertente provoca una risata, in questo caso 'di gusto', cioè con piacere.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
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acredine
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aggressivo
B2Aggressive, hostile, or forceful.
agognato
C1Longed for or ardently desired.
allegro
A2cheerful or happy
amare
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ambivalente
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ambivalenza
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ambizione
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ammettere
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