bisogna

Bisogna is the impersonal present form of the Italian verb bisognare, used to express necessity or obligation without specifying a subject. It corresponds to phrases like "it is necessary" or "one must" and is a common way to state general requirements.

The most frequent construction is with an infinitive: Bisogna studiare per superare l’esame. It can also introduce a clause with the subjunctive: Bisogna che tu venga in orario. In negative form, it is commonly heard as Non bisogna fare così. In some contexts, synonyms such as occorre or è necessario are used interchangeably, often to adjust level of formality or emphasis.

Grammatical notes: Bisogna is invariable with respect to person; it does not change for I, you, or he. Other tenses exist for the verb bisognare to indicate different times or nuances, such as bisognava (imperfect: "it was necessary"), bisognerà (future: "it will be necessary"), or phrases like ci sarà bisogno (there will be a need). When expressing obligation directed at someone, Italian can also use phrases with dovere (devi) or with the impersonal constructions of need (avere bisogno di). The impersonal use of bisognare generally avoids specifying who must do something, focusing instead on the necessity itself.

Usage notes: Bisogna is widely employed in formal and informal Italian to set requirements, recommendations, or rules. It is productive in both everyday speech and written language and tends to feel more neutral and objective than verbs that explicitly state obligation by the speaker, such as dovere. Its distinction from “devo” or “ho bisogno” lies in its impersonal, general sense of necessity rather than a personal duty or personal need.

See also: Dovere, Occorrere, Necessità.