Meaning
to entertain; linger
- To entertain or amuse an audience or guests.
- To maintain or conduct relations, conversations, or negotiations.
- (intrattenersi) To linger, stay talking, or occupy oneself.
In a sentence
Il comico ha intrattenuto il pubblico per due ore.
The comedian entertained the audience for two hours.
L'azienda intrattiene relazioni commerciali con l'estero.
The company maintains commercial relations abroad.
Ci siamo intrattenuti a parlare fino a tarda notte.
We lingered talking until late at night.
Word forms (48)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| intrattenere | infinitive |
| intrattengo | indicative · present · singular · 1st person |
| intrattieni | indicative · present · singular · 2nd person |
| intrattiene | indicative · present · singular · 3rd person |
| intratteniamo | indicative · present · plural · 1st person |
| intrattenete | indicative · present · plural · 2nd person |
| intrattengono | indicative · present · plural · 3rd person |
| intrattenevo | indicative · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| intrattenevi | indicative · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| intratteneva | indicative · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| intrattenevamo | indicative · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| intrattenevate | indicative · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| intrattenevano | indicative · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| intrattenni | indicative · past · singular · 1st person |
| intrattenesti | indicative · past · singular · 2nd person |
| intrattenne | indicative · past · singular · 3rd person |
| intrattenemmo | indicative · past · plural · 1st person |
| intratteneste | indicative · past · plural · 2nd person |
| intrattennero | indicative · past · plural · 3rd person |
| intratterrò | indicative · future · singular · 1st person |
| intratterrai | indicative · future · singular · 2nd person |
| intratterrà | indicative · future · singular · 3rd person |
| intratterremo | indicative · future · plural · 1st person |
| intratterrete | indicative · future · plural · 2nd person |
| intratterranno | indicative · future · plural · 3rd person |
| intrattenga | subjunctive · present · singular · 1st person |
| intrattenga | subjunctive · present · singular · 2nd person |
| intrattenga | subjunctive · present · singular · 3rd person |
| intratteniamo | subjunctive · present · plural · 1st person |
| intratteniate | subjunctive · present · plural · 2nd person |
| intrattengano | subjunctive · present · plural · 3rd person |
| intrattenessi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| intrattenessi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| intrattenesse | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| intrattenessimo | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| intratteneste | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| intrattenessero | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| intratterrei | conditional · present · singular · 1st person |
| intratterresti | conditional · present · singular · 2nd person |
| intratterrebbe | conditional · present · singular · 3rd person |
| intratterremmo | conditional · present · plural · 1st person |
| intratterreste | conditional · present · plural · 2nd person |
| intratterrebbero | conditional · present · plural · 3rd person |
| intrattieni | imperative · singular · 2nd person |
| intratteniamo | imperative · plural · 1st person |
| intrattenete | imperative · plural · 2nd person |
| intrattenendo | gerund |
| intrattenuto | past · participle |
Usage notes
- Conjugates like 'tenere' (present 'intrattengo', preterite 'intrattenni').
- Takes 'avere' in transitive active forms, but 'essere' when used reflexively ('intrattenersi').
- present: intrattengo, intrattieni, intrattiene, intratteniamo, intrattenete, intrattengono