abbonarsi

Abbonarsi is an Italian reflexive verb meaning to subscribe to a publication, service, or platform. The action implies obtaining ongoing access, typically through a payment, for a defined period. It is commonly used for newspapers, magazines, streaming services, newsletters, and other recurring offerings. The construction normally requires the preposition a to indicate the object of the subscription: abbonarsi a una rivista, abbonarsi a un servizio di streaming.

Usage notes:

Abbonarsi is primarily used for periodic or ongoing access rather than for one‑time enrollments. For enrolling in courses or programs, Italian more often uses iscriversi (to enroll). Examples: Mi sono abbonato a una rivista. Ci siamo abbonati all’abbonamento annuale. In present tense, reflexive forms are used: io mi abbono, tu ti abboni, lui si abbona, noi ci abboniamo, voi vi abbonate, loro si abbonano. The passé composé typically uses essere: mi sono abbonato/a, ti sei abbonato/a, si è abbonato/a, ci siamo abbonati/e, vi siete abbonati/e, si sono abbonati/e.

Etymology:

The verb is formed from the noun abbonamento (subscription) with the reflexive -arsi suffix. It belongs to a subset of Italian verbs that express a sustained or recurring action related to a service or publication.

See also:

Iscriversi, which is used for enrolling in courses or organizations, and abbonamento, the noun for a subscription.