mettiamo

Mettiamo is the first-person plural present indicative form of the Italian verb mettere, meaning "we put" or "we place." It is widely used in everyday Italian and also serves as a common inclusive imperative, equivalent to the English "let's," to propose actions or to frame hypothetical scenarios.

Grammatical notes and usage

Mettere is an irregular verb, and mettiamo is formed from the stem metti- plus the standard -amo ending of the noi form. The same verb is used with direct objects to indicate placing or setting something, as in "Mettiamo i libri sul tavolo" (Let’s put the books on the table). In addition to ordinary statements, mettiamo introduces the inclusive imperative sense, often in planning or collaborative contexts: "Mettiamo da parte le divergenze" (Let’s set aside the differences).

Hypothetical and idiomatic use

Mettiamo is also the lead-in phrase for hypothetical or exploratory clauses: "Mettiamo che arrivi Tommaso" (Suppose that Tommaso arrives). In such constructions, the subordinate verb typically appears in the conjunctive mood. The expression is common in spoken Italian when proposing a course of action or discussing possibilities.

Etymology and forms

Mettiamo derives from mettere, whose Latin origin is mittere. The form preserves the Italian pattern of the present tense for the noi subject, with metti- as the stem and -amo as the ending. Related forms include metto, metti, mette, mettete, mettono, and other tenses built from the same stem.

See also

Mettere; Italian verb conjugation; Italian present indicative.