As in English, there are a number of different expressions in Italian which have to do with the act of hearing of or about something. Following is a list of common expressions which deal with hearing, both literally and figuratively.
- sentire qualcosa/qualcuno --> to hear something/someone / to hear from someone / to talk to someone
Senti cosa dice Angela?
Do you hear what Angela is saying?
Hai sentito tua sorella ultimamente?
Have you heard from your sister lately?
Ho sentito dei rumori durante la notte.
I heard some noises during the night.
NB: The verb udire also means to hear something/someone. It is an older form and is less commonly used on its own, though you will see it used in literature and may come across it in conversation in some parts of Italy, as well as in some expressions (udire per caso, for example, which means to overhear). - sentire parlare di qualcosa/qualcuno --> to hear about something/someone
Non voglio sentire parlare di lei.
I don’t want to hear about her.
Hai sentito parlare del telefilm “Lost”?
Have you heard about the TV show, “Lost”? - sentirci --> to be able to hear
Mio nonno non ci sente bene senza l’apparecchio acustico.
My grandfather cannot hear well without his hearing aid. - non sentirci da un orecchio → to be unwilling to listen / to pay attention
Ho detto a mio fratello che dovremmo vendere la casa al mare, ma lui non ci sente da quell'orecchio.
I told my brother that we should sell the beach house, but he doesn’t pay attention to me. - sentire (di) --> to hear the latest news of
Avete sentito di Andrea? Ha lasciato la sua fidanzata!
Did you hear about Andrea? He left his fiancée! - sentire (dire) che --> to hear that / to hear a rumor that
Io e Elisa abbiamo sentito che ci sarà una festa a casa di Enrico stasera.
Elisa and I heard that there’s going to be a party at Enrico’s tonight.
Non mi piace sentir dire che succedono queste cose solo in Italia.
I don’t like hearing that these things only happen in Italy. - sentire nominare --> to hear of (to know something/someone exists)
Ci sono animali nella foresta pluviale che non ho mai sentito nominare.
There are animals in the rainforest that I’ve never even heard of.
Gli studenti non sentono nominare tanti autori brasiliani.
The students don’t know many Brazilian authors. - avere notizie di / ricevere notizie da qualcuno --> to hear from someone
Sono due anni che non abbiamo notizie di mia sorella.
It’s been two years since we’ve heard from my sister.
Ricevi spesso notizie dagli zii in Italia?
Do you often get news from your aunts and uncles in Italy? - ascoltare --> to listen / hear
Ti sto ascoltando!
I’m listening to you!
Hai ascoltato il nuovo singolo di Cesare Cremonini?
Have you heard Cesare Cremonini’s new single? - farsi ascoltare / sentire --> to make oneself heard / to get in touch (with someone)
Non so come farmi sentire.
I don’t know how to make myself heard.
Non si è fatto sentire tutto il giorno.
He hasn’t made himself heard all day.