sapersi

Sapersi is a pronominal form of the Italian verb sapere, used as a semi-auxiliary to express know-how or practical ability—especially when the action is performed by the subject on or for themselves. It conveys a sense of personal competence and resourcefulness rather than mere factual knowledge.

Usage and nuance include phrases that denote how to do something or how to handle oneself in a situation. Common examples are sapersi comportare, sapersi difendere, sapersi orientare, and sapersi adattare. The construction emphasizes the subject’s ability to act effectively in real life circumstances, rather than theoretical knowledge.

Construction and grammar: sapersi follows the same conjugation pattern as sapere in most tenses, with the reflexive pronoun attached to the infinitive or placed before the conjugated form. This reflexive element highlights that the know-how concerns the person themselves. The exact forms can vary by tense and mood, but the core idea remains “to know how to do something for oneself.”

Etymology and relation to other terms: sapersi is formed from sapere plus the reflexive se (si), and it is related to, but distinct from, the simple sapere when discussing capability. In many contexts, speakers also use phrases like sapere come fare or essere in grado di to express a similar meaning.

See also: sapere, essere in grado, capacità, competenza.