In our previous post we explored the verb intendere. Today we’re going to take a look at its reflexive partner intendersi. The verb intendersi has two main meanings: intendersi = ‘to come to an agreement about’, or ‘to clarify something’, and intendersi di = ‘to be knowledgeable about something’. Below are some everyday examples illustrating how to use this verb:

Intendersi = to come to an agreement/to clarify something

ci siamo intesi sul prezzo definitivo = we agreed on the final price
occorre intendersi sulle regole di base = we have to be clear about the ground rules
“non che fosse un ragazzo cattivo, intendiamoci; era solo un mascalzone” = “Let’s be clear, he wasn’t an evil kid, he was just a scoundrel“

Related to intendersi is the feminine noun un’intesa = an agreement, e.g.

è mancata l’intesa fra i partiti = the agreement amongst the parties didn’t take place
i sindicati hanno raggiunto un’intesa col governo = the unions have reached an agreement with the government
i rapinatori hanno agito d’intesa con la guardia = the robbers acted in agreement (conspired) with the guard

Intendersi di = to be knowledgeable about/to be proficient in

Giorgio si intende di vini = Giorgio is knowledgeable about wines
non lo chiedere a me, io proprio non me ne intendo = don’t ask me, I really don’t know anything about it
Leonardo da Vinci si intendeva sia di arte che di meccanica = Leonardo da Vinci was proficient both in art and in mechanics

N.b. in the second example above, the ne in io proprio non me ne intendo means about it

Related to intendersi di (to be knowledgeable about) is the word intenditore (feminine: intenditrice) meaning connoisseur/expert. For example:

Giorgio è un intenditore di vini = Giorgio is a wine connoisseur
non lo chiedere a me, io non sono un’intenditrice in questo campo = don’t ask me, I’m not an expert in this area
puoi fidarti del suo consiglio, lui è un intenditore = you can trust his advice, he’s an expert

Esecizio = Excersise

Try and complete the following sentences referring to the examples given above (n.b. some will have two possible solutions)

1. pensi che Lucia _______ di orchidee? = Do you think Lucia is knowledgeable about orchids?
2. chi di voi _______ di motori? = who amongst you is knowledgeable about engines?
3. finalmente _______ sulla modalità di pagamento = finally they reached an agreement on the payment mode
4. Maria è _______ di piante grasse = Maria is an expert on succulent plants
5. Mario e Bruno _______ = Mario and Bruno acted in agreement

Translate the following sentences into Italian using the reflexive verb intendersi:

1. do you know anything about sewing machines? _______
2. do you know anybody who knows about printers? _______
3. it wasn’t the best result, let’s be clear! _______
4. are we clear about the objective of this exercise? _______
5. I’m sorry, I really don’t know anything about it _______

We’ll provide the answers to the exercises in this and the previous post at the end of the week.

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