soffrivamo

Soffrivamo is the first-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb soffrire, meaning "we suffered" or "we were suffering." It is used to describe ongoing or repeated suffering in the past, and it often serves to set a narrative background, express endurance, or recount collective experiences.

Etymology and usage context: Soffrire derives from Latin pati, “to endure.” The imperfect soffrivamo conveys a sense of duration or habit in the past, rather than a single, completed event. It can describe physical pain, emotional hardship, or prolonged difficult conditions, and it is commonly found in literary prose, memoirs, journalism, and historical narratives.

Examples in context: In a historical recount, one might read, “Durante l'inverno soffrivamo freddo e fame,” meaning that during the winter they were enduring cold and hunger. In memoir or lyrical prose, it can appear as a reflection on past collective hardship, e.g., “Soffrivamo insieme, ma non abbiamo rinunciato alla dignità.” The form is typically used when the speaker wants to emphasize continuity or repetition of suffering in the past, rather than a single moment.

Notes: As a standard grammatical form, soffrivamo appears in everyday Italian and in written texts alike. It does not constitute a standalone concept beyond its function as the imperfect tense of soffrire, but it is a common tool for conveying endurance and collective memory within past narratives.