immagino

Immagino is the first-person singular present indicative form of the Italian verb immaginare, meaning to imagine. It is commonly used in everyday Italian to express conjecture, supposition, or personal assumption, as in expressions such as Immagino che sia tardi (I suppose it’s late) or Immagino di poter aiutare (I imagine I can help).

Etymology and forms: Immaginare derives from the Latin imaginare, which in turn comes from imago, meaning image or likeness. In Italian, immaginare is a regular -are verb, with indicative endings such as io immagino, tu immagini, lui/lei immagina, noi immaginiamo, voi immaginate, loro immaginano. The form immagino is used specifically for the first-person singular present.

Usage notes: Besides expressing a personal guess, immagino can convey a hypothetical consideration or a polite assumption in discourse. It can be followed by subordinate clauses introduced by che, or used with an infinitive when paired with other verbs (e.g., Immagino di dover partire). The word is versatile in informal and formal registers and is often preferred over stronger terms like credo or penso when the speaker is signaling caution or uncertainty.

Related forms: The verb’s presente congiuntivo includes immagini, immaginiamo, immaginate, etc., which are used in more tentative, hypothetical statements. Common synonyms include suppongo, penso, or ritengo, depending on nuance.

In cultural usage, immaginare is a foundational concept in Italian storytelling, planning, and everyday planning, reflecting the language’s emphasis on envisioning possibilities as a step toward action.