Meaning
to chew
- to chew food with the teeth
- to chew something repeatedly
- to speak or know a language imperfectly
In a sentence
Devi masticare lentamente dopo l'operazione.
You must chew slowly after the operation.
Mastichi ancora la gomma in ufficio?
Are you still chewing gum in the office?
Non mastico bene il tedesco.
I don't know German very well.
Word forms (48)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| masticare | infinitive |
| mastico | indicative · present · singular · 1st person |
| mastichi | indicative · present · singular · 2nd person |
| mastica | indicative · present · singular · 3rd person |
| mastichiamo | indicative · present · plural · 1st person |
| masticate | indicative · present · plural · 2nd person |
| masticano | indicative · present · plural · 3rd person |
| masticavo | indicative · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| masticavi | indicative · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| masticava | indicative · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| masticavamo | indicative · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| masticavate | indicative · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| masticavano | indicative · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| masticai | indicative · past · singular · 1st person |
| masticasti | indicative · past · singular · 2nd person |
| masticò | indicative · past · singular · 3rd person |
| masticammo | indicative · past · plural · 1st person |
| masticaste | indicative · past · plural · 2nd person |
| masticarono | indicative · past · plural · 3rd person |
| masticherò | indicative · future · singular · 1st person |
| masticherai | indicative · future · singular · 2nd person |
| masticherà | indicative · future · singular · 3rd person |
| masticheremo | indicative · future · plural · 1st person |
| masticherete | indicative · future · plural · 2nd person |
| masticheranno | indicative · future · plural · 3rd person |
| mastichi | subjunctive · present · singular · 1st person |
| mastichi | subjunctive · present · singular · 2nd person |
| mastichi | subjunctive · present · singular · 3rd person |
| mastichiamo | subjunctive · present · plural · 1st person |
| mastichiate | subjunctive · present · plural · 2nd person |
| mastichino | subjunctive · present · plural · 3rd person |
| masticassi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| masticassi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| masticasse | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| masticassimo | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| masticaste | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| masticassero | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| masticherei | conditional · present · singular · 1st person |
| masticheresti | conditional · present · singular · 2nd person |
| masticherebbe | conditional · present · singular · 3rd person |
| masticheremmo | conditional · present · plural · 1st person |
| mastichereste | conditional · present · plural · 2nd person |
| masticherebbero | conditional · present · plural · 3rd person |
| mastica | imperative · singular · 2nd person |
| mastichiamo | imperative · plural · 1st person |
| masticate | imperative · plural · 2nd person |
| masticando | gerund |
| masticato | past · participle |
Usage notes
- Main meaning is physical: masticare il cibo, una gomma.
- Also informal: masticare una lingua = know it a bit.
- Do not confuse with mangiare: you can masticare without swallowing.