servono

Servono is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Italian verb servire. The verb means to serve, to be of use, or to be needed, and it is used when the subject is plural or when expressing a general necessity.

In everyday Italian, servire expresses usefulness or necessity. Examples: Mi servono due penne per scrivere una lettera. (I need two pens to write a letter.) Questi strumenti servono per tagliare il legno. (These tools are used for cutting wood.) Queste regole servono a capire il testo. (These rules are useful for understanding the text.)

The form servono agrees with a plural subject, while the singular form serve is used with singular subjects. For instance: Questo strumento serve a tagliare. (This tool is used for cutting.) Constructions with pronouns such as mi, ti, ci followed by serve/servono express personal necessity: Mi serve un penna (I need a pen) vs. Mi servono due penne (I need two pens). The phrase ci servono indicates that something is needed for “us.”

Etymology and related uses: The Italian verb servire derives from Latin servire, meaning to be of service or to be useful. Beyond basic meaning, it appears in many idiomatic expressions such as servirsi di qualcosa (to make use of something) and in passive-like or impersonal constructions that emphasize usefulness or necessity.

See also: Italian verbs of usefulness and necessity, servire, usage of si + verb forms in Italian, common expressions with serve in Italian.