tollerare

Tollerare is an Italian verb meaning to tolerate, to endure, or to bear something despite discomfort or objection. It is used to describe accepting or putting up with people, situations, behaviors, or conditions, as well as to express permission in some contexts. In everyday speech it often conveys a limit beyond which the speaker will not accept a behavior or circumstance, for example, Non tollero questo comportamento.

Etymology and related forms: the verb comes from Latin tolerare, from the same root that gives tolleranza, tollerante and tollerabile. In Italian, tollerare is a regular -are verb, sharing the standard endings of this conjugation.

Conjugation and usage notes: tollerare follows the regular -are pattern, with present tense forms such as io tollero, tu tolleri, lui tollera, noi tolleriamo, voi tollerate, loro tollerano. It can describe personal tolerance, such as tolerating noise or criticism, as well as regulatory or policy contexts, where a certain degree of flexibility or discretion is allowed. It is common to pair tollerare with negation to express intolerance, e.g., Non tollero i ritardi, or with phrases like tolleranza zero to denote strict limits.

Synonyms and contrasts: common synonyms include sopportare and accettare, which emphasize enduring or accepting rather than permitting; that last nuance is more closely conveyed by permettere or concedere in contexts of permission. Tollerare contrasts with buone maniere in contexts of social tolerance, where tolerance denotes a broader attitude rather than a specific limit.

See also: tolleranza, tollerante, tollerabile, tollerare in expressions such as tolleranza zero.