lamentiamoci

Lamentiamoci is the Italian verb form that corresponds to the English phrase “let us lament” or “let us complain.” It is the first-person plural imperative (noi) of the reflexive verb lamentarsi, meaning that the subject is a group including the speaker and that the action is performed by or on behalf of that group.

In use, lamentiamoci is followed by a description of what should be lamented, often with the reflexive pronoun ci attached to the verb (lamentiamoci). For example: “Lamentiamoci delle ingiustizie” (Let us lament injustices). The pronoun ci signals the collective, and the phrase can stand alone or lead into a clause specifying the object of lament.

Lamentiamoci can serve different communicative purposes. It may be employed seriously to foster collective reflection on grievances or injustices, or it can function ironically or critically to comment on a habit of complaint. The form tends to appear more often in written Italian—such as editorials, literary prose, or rhetorical passages—rather than in casual everyday speech.

Cultural and linguistic notes: lamentiamoci is primarily a grammatical form rather than a fixed title or distinct concept. While it can appear as a motif in poetry or prose, it is not established as a standalone movement or widely recognized term in Italian language references. Its meaning and implications are primarily determined by context and tone.

See also: lamentarsi; imperative mood in Italian; clitic pronouns.