Aumentare

Aumentare is an Italian verb of the first conjugation meaning to make something larger, to increase, to raise, or to augment. It is commonly used transitively to indicate increasing a quantity, level, or value—such as aumentare i prezzi, la produzione, o la velocità—and can also be used intransitively in phrases describing growth, as in i prezzi sono aumentati. The term is widely used in everyday language as well as in scientific, economic, and political contexts.

Etymology: the verb derives from Latin augmentāre, from augēre “to increase.” It is related to the Italian noun aumento (increase) and to cognates in other Romance languages as well as to the English verb augment.

Grammar and conjugation: aumentare is a regular -are verb. Present indicative forms are: aumento, aumenti, aumenta, aumentiamo, aumentate, aumentano. Imperfect: aumentavo, aumentavi, aumentava, aumentavamo, aumentavate, aumentavano. Past participle: aumentato; gerund: aumentando. Future: aumenterò, aumenterai, aumenterà, aumenteremo, aumenterete, aumenteranno. Subjunctive present: aumenti, aumenti, aumenti, aumentiamo, aumentiate, aumentino. Imperative: aumenta (tu), aumenti (Lei), aumentiamo, aumentate, aumentino.

Usage notes: aumentare typically requires a direct object when referring to elevating something concrete (aumentare i prezzi, i salari). With numbers or quantities, it can be followed by di or da to indicate the amount increased (aumentare di tre unità). In contrast, sinonimi such as crescere, incrementare, or innalzare may carry slightly different nuances or formality levels depending on context.

Examples: I prezzi sono aumentati di due euro. Il governo ha deciso di aumentare le tasse. Aumentare la produzione richiede investimenti.