abbia

Abbia is the present subjunctive form of the Italian verb avere, meaning "to have." In Italian, this form is used in subordinate clauses introduced by che or other expressions that trigger the subjunctive, such as statements of doubt, possibility, emotion, necessity, or desire. Abbia is the form used for the first-, second-, and third-person singular, while the other persons have different endings.

The standard present subjunctive conjugation of avere is: io abbia, tu abbia, lui/lei abbia, noi abbiamo, voi abbiate, loro abbiano. Note that the form for noi is abbiamo, which is identical to the indicative form, but it is still treated as a subjunctive form in grammatical contexts. The endings for the other persons are distinct: abbiate for voi and abbiano for loro.

Usage examples illustrate how abbia functions in sentences. For instance: Spero che lui abbia successo. I hope that he has success. Credo che tu abbia ragione. I think that you are right. È possibile che noi abbiamo finito. It is possible that we have finished. Non è certo che lei abbia capito. It is not certain that she has understood. These examples show abbia appearing after verbs of wishing, thinking, possibility, or doubt, within clauses preceded by che.

Origin and notes: abbia derives from the Latin habēre and is part of the broader system of the Italian subjunctive, which contrasts with the indicative mood. It is not used as a standalone lexical item outside of grammatical contexts, and it may also occur in written forms that preserve traditional or formal language. In addition to its grammatical role, abbia may appear in some proper names or surnames, though such uses are not common.