scrivi

Scrivi is the Italian verb form that corresponds to the second person singular of the verb scrivere, meaning to write. It serves as the present indicative form for tu (you write) and, in many contexts, as the imperative form used to give a direct command to someone you address informally. Because the spelling is the same, the intended meaning is inferred from sentence structure and context.

Etymology and cognates: scrivere comes from Latin scribere, meaning to write. The stem scriv- appears in several related Italian forms and has cognates in other Romance languages, such as Spanish escribir, French écrire, and Portuguese escrever. Related Italian nouns and adjectives include scrittura (writing) and scritto (written).

Conjugation and forms: Scrivere is an -ere verb with standard conjugation patterns. Present tense forms include io scrivo, tu scrivi, lui/lei scrive, noi scriviamo, voi scrivete, loro scrivono. Other tenses follow regular patterns for -ere verbs, with common forms such as scrivevo (imperfect) and scrissi (past historic). The past participle is scritto, used with avere in compound tenses (ho scritto). The gerund is scrivendo.

Usage notes: Scrivi is transitive and typically takes a direct object, as in Scrivi una lettera (Write a letter). In the imperative, pronouns can attach to the verb, e.g., Scrivigli una lettera (Write him a letter). In passive-like or compound constructions, the verb employs avere as the auxiliary (Ho scritto). The term remains central in everyday writing, education, journalism, and literature.