Meaning
to protest, object
- to protest, object, complain
- to declare, assert solemnly
In a sentence
Lui protesta sempre quando il conto è troppo alto.
He always protests when the bill is too high.
Hai protestato con il vicino per il rumore?
Did you complain to the neighbor about the noise?
Non protestare, ti sto solo facendo una domanda.
Don't protest, I'm just asking you a question.
Word forms (48)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| protestare | infinitive |
| protestiamo | indicative · present · plural · 1st person |
| protesto | indicative · present · singular · 1st person |
| protestate | indicative · present · plural · 2nd person |
| protesti | indicative · present · singular · 2nd person |
| protestano | indicative · present · plural · 3rd person |
| protesta | indicative · present · singular · 3rd person |
| protestavamo | indicative · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| protestavo | indicative · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| protestavate | indicative · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| protestavi | indicative · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| protestavano | indicative · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| protestava | indicative · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| protestammo | indicative · past · plural · 1st person |
| protestai | indicative · past · singular · 1st person |
| protestaste | indicative · past · plural · 2nd person |
| protestasti | indicative · past · singular · 2nd person |
| protestarono | indicative · past · plural · 3rd person |
| protestò | indicative · past · singular · 3rd person |
| protesteremo | indicative · future · plural · 1st person |
| protesterò | indicative · future · singular · 1st person |
| protesterete | indicative · future · plural · 2nd person |
| protesterai | indicative · future · singular · 2nd person |
| protesteranno | indicative · future · plural · 3rd person |
| protesterà | indicative · future · singular · 3rd person |
| protestiamo | subjunctive · present · plural · 1st person |
| protesti | subjunctive · present · singular · 1st person |
| protestiate | subjunctive · present · plural · 2nd person |
| protesti | subjunctive · present · singular · 2nd person |
Usage notes
- For demonstrating against something, prefer protestare contro + noun; manifestare is often more common for joining a public march or rally.
- To complain to someone, Italian usually uses protestare con qualcuno, not a direct object like English “protest someone.”
- In formal language, protestare can mean “declare firmly” or “insist”: protestare la propria innocenza. This sense is less common in everyday speech.