Parliamo

Parliamo is the first-person plural present indicative form of the Italian verb parlare, meaning "to speak." In everyday use, it functions both as a literal statement—“we speak”—and as a conversational cue, often translated as the inclusive English meaning “let us speak” or “let’s talk.” It follows the standard -are verb conjugation pattern, with the subject pronoun noi typically omitted in Italian.

Common uses include indicating the language a group speaks, as in Parliamo italiano (We speak Italian), and proposing a discussion, as in Parliamo di questa questione (Let’s talk about this issue). The phrase can initiate dialogue or participation in dialogue, appearing at the start of sentences to invite others to engage: Parliamo di te (Let’s talk about you).

Grammatical notes clarify that parliamo is not the imperative form; it is the present indicative used in a inclusive sense. The imperative second-person plural form would be parlate, and the first-person singular form is parlo. In contemporary Italian, parliamo is common in informal speech, conversations, classrooms, and media where speakers want to emphasize collaboration or shared action.

Cultural usage often hinges on its inviting tone. Parliamo appears in language-learning materials to illustrate how to form inclusive imperatives, in dialogue-driven writing to convey immediacy, and in advertising or community campaigns to encourage discussion. Although it is primarily a grammatical form, its frequent, friendly use makes it a familiar signpost for dialogue in Italian-speaking contexts.