italiano · A1 · verb · 4 minutes
Mangiare: spelling-preserving -are verb
Keep one i before endings and use mangio/mangi without doubling it.
Understand the choice
Spelling tracks pronunciation. Mangio and mangiamo keep the soft sound with one written i, while mangi has no extra i because the ending itself supplies it.
Core rule: Mangiare follows -are endings; the stem’s i preserves the soft g sound but is not doubled before i-initial endings.
Notice it in context
Mangio la pasta, mentre voi mangiate il pesce.
I eat pasta while you eat fish.
Mangio agrees with omitted io; mangiate agrees with voi; food nouns are direct objects.
Che cosa mangi a colazione?
What do you eat for breakfast?
Mangi has one i and agrees with tu.
I bambini mangiano frutta ogni giorno.
The children eat fruit every day.
Mangiano keeps one i before -ano.
What to remember
- Verbs in -care/-gare add h before e/i endings: cerchi, paghi.
- Mangiare uses avere in the passato prossimo: ho mangiato.
Common trap: Do not write mangii or mangiamo with an extra i.