Frequentare

Frequentare is an Italian verb of the first conjugation that generally means to attend regularly or to frequent a place, person, or activity. It is used to indicate habitual presence or ongoing engagement, such as attending school, going to a gym, or visiting a bar. The sense can extend to seeing someone socially or dating, as in frequentare una persona, or to regularly participate in events or courses, such as frequentare un corso.

Typical uses include attending institutions or activities (frequentare una scuola, frequentare un corso, frequentare una palestra) and visiting places (frequentare quel bar, frequentare un museo). When used with a person, frequentare can imply a recurring social relationship, sometimes dating, though more explicit terms are often preferred in contemporary language. In the pronominal form frequentarsi, it can convey the idea of two people beginning or maintaining a relationship, as in hanno iniziato a frequentarsi.

Grammatical notes: frequentare is a regular -are verb. Examples of common forms include presente io frequento, tu frequenti, lui frequenta, noi frequentiamo, voi frequentate, loro frequentano. Other tenses follow standard -are patterns: passato prossimo ho frequentato; imperfetto frequentavo; futuro frequenterò. The verb shares its root with the Latin frequentāre, and its use remains closely tied to the idea of regular presence at or engagement with a place, activity, or person.

Etymology and related terms: Frequentare derives from Latin frequentāre, from frequentis “crowded” or “frequent.” Related nouns include frequentazione (the act of frequenting) and frequentatore (a frequenter).