Meaning
to penetrate
- to penetrate, enter
- to seep in, permeate
- to get into, gain access to
In a sentence
La luce del sole penetra dalla finestra aperta.
The sunlight comes in through the open window.
L'acqua è penetrata nel muro dopo la pioggia.
Water seeped into the wall after the rain.
Come hai fatto a penetrare in casa?
How did you manage to get into the house?
Word forms (48)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| penetrare | infinitive |
| penetriamo | indicative · present · plural · 1st person |
| penetro | indicative · present · singular · 1st person |
| penetrate | indicative · present · plural · 2nd person |
| penetri | indicative · present · singular · 2nd person |
| penetrano | indicative · present · plural · 3rd person |
| penetra | indicative · present · singular · 3rd person |
| penetravamo | indicative · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| penetravo | indicative · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| penetravate | indicative · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| penetravi | indicative · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| penetravano | indicative · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| penetrava | indicative · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| penetrammo | indicative · past · plural · 1st person |
| penetrai | indicative · past · singular · 1st person |
| penetraste | indicative · past · plural · 2nd person |
| penetrasti | indicative · past · singular · 2nd person |
| penetrarono | indicative · past · plural · 3rd person |
| penetrò | indicative · past · singular · 3rd person |
| penetreremo | indicative · future · plural · 1st person |
| penetrerò | indicative · future · singular · 1st person |
| penetrerete | indicative · future · plural · 2nd person |
| penetrerai | indicative · future · singular · 2nd person |
| penetreranno | indicative · future · plural · 3rd person |
| penetrerà | indicative · future · singular · 3rd person |
| penetriamo | subjunctive · present · plural · 1st person |
| penetri | subjunctive · present · singular · 1st person |
| penetriate | subjunctive · present · plural · 2nd person |
| penetri | subjunctive · present · singular · 2nd person |
Usage notes
- Often more formal or technical than entrare or passare; common in science, medicine, journalism, and literary writing.
- For physical entry, use essere in compound tenses: è penetrato nella stanza. Transitive uses take avere: ha penetrato la barriera.
- Usually followed by in or dentro: penetrare in un edificio, nei tessuti, nel mercato. Avoid direct object unless truly transitive.