acquistare

Acquistare is an Italian verb meaning to purchase or to acquire something. It is used for buying goods or services as well as for obtaining non-physical things such as knowledge or skills. In everyday speech it is somewhat more formal or literary than the more common comprare.

Etymology and usage: the verb derives from Latin acquirere, meaning to gain or obtain, often through purchase. In Italian, acquistare is typically used in formal, commercial, or written contexts, while comprare remains common in casual conversation. It can also be used in abstract senses of acquisition, for example “acquistare fiducia” (to gain trust) or “acquistare conoscenza” (to acquire knowledge).

Valence and prepositions: acquistare takes a direct object (“acquistare qualcosa”). When indicating the seller or source, it is common to use phrases such as acquistare da qualcuno, acquistare presso un rivenditore, or acquistare online/presso. It can be used transitively intransitive contexts only with a direct object.

Conjugation: acquistare is a regular -are verb.

- Present: io acquisto, tu acquisti, lui acquista, noi acquistiamo, voi acquistate, loro acquistano.

- Passato prossimo: ho acquistato, hai acquistato, ha acquistato, abbiamo acquistato, avete acquistato, hanno acquistato.

- Imperfetto: acquistavo, acquistavi, acquistava, acquistavamo, acquistavate, acquistavano.

- Futuro semplice: acquisterò, acquisterai, acquisterà, acquisteremo, acquisterete, acquisteranno.

- Congiuntivo presente: acquisti, acquisti, acquisti, acquistiamo, acquistiate, acquistino.

- Participio passato: acquistato; gerundio: acquistando.

Noun form: l’acquisto, meaning the act of purchasing or an item purchased. See also comprare, acquisto, acquisizione.