godevamo

Godevamo is the first-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb godere, meaning to enjoy. It translates roughly as “we enjoyed” or “we used to enjoy,” and is used to describe past actions that were habitual or ongoing rather than completed.

Etymology and morphology: Godere derives from Latin gaudere. In Italian, it is a regular -ere verb. In the imperfect tense the suffix for noi is -vamo, yielding godevamo. Related forms include io godevo, tu godevi, lui/lei godeva, voi godevate, loro godevano.

Usage and examples: Godevamo expresses past enjoyment without indicating a termination. It is commonly used with phrases that describe ongoing or repeated pleasure in the past. For example: “Durante le vacanze, godevamo di lunghe passeggiate al mare.” “Da bambini, godevamo delle serate estive.” The form can also appear in narrative to set a reflective tone about past experiences.

Common distinctions: Godevamo is often confused with dovevamo, which means “we had to.” The two verbs have distinct meanings and uses; godevamo relates to enjoyment, while dovevamo expresses obligation or necessity. The imperfect tense overall conveys past actions without specifying their completion.

See also: Godere, Italian verb conjugation, Imperfect tense, Romance-language verbs.