entrare

Entrare is an Italian verb meaning to enter or to go into. It denotes moving from outside to inside a place, space, or state, and is used in both literal senses (entering a room) and figurative ones (entering a partnership or a phase). The verb is intransitive and requires the auxiliary essere in compound tenses, as with other verbs that express motion or change of state.

Etymology: Entrare derives from Latin intrāre, formed from in- "in" and the root related to "to go." It has cognates in other Romance languages, such as Spanish entrar and French entrer.

Conjugation and grammar: Entrare is a regular -are verb. Present indicative forms: entro, entri, entra, entriamo, entrate, entrano. Imperfect: entravo, entravi, entrava, entravamo, entravate, entravano. Future: entrerò, entrerai, entrerà, entreremo, entrerete, entreranno. Passato remoto: entrai, entrasti, entrò, entrammo, entraste, entrarono. Past participle: entrato (masc.), entrata (fem.). Gerund: entrando. In compound tenses the auxiliary is essere, e.g., sono entrato, siamo entrati. Subjunctive present: entri, entri, entriamo, entrate, entrino. Conditional: entrerei, entreresti, entrerebbe, entreremmo, entrereste, entrerebbero.

Usage notes: Literal usage includes constructions such as entrare in una stanza or entrare in casa. Figurative uses include entrare a far parte di qualcosa (to become part of something), entrare in vigore (to come into force), entrare nel merito (to get to the substance), and entrare in scena (to come on stage). The noun entrata means an entrance or the act of entering.

See also: entrata (noun), entrare (related term in some dialects).