alleggerire

to lighten

verb ahl-led-jeh-REE-reh Rare

Origin: From leggero (light), with prefix al- (ad-) + suffix -ire.

Also means

to ease

Usage Note

Alleggerire can mean to physically reduce weight (alleggerire un carico = to lighten a load) or to ease a burden metaphorically (alleggerire la tensione = to ease tension). The opposite is appesantire (to make heavier). It conjugates as a regular -ire verb with the -isc- infix in the present: alleggerisco, alleggerisci, etc.

Examples

"Dovresti alleggerire il tuo zaino prima del viaggio."

Natural Translation

You should lighten your backpack before the trip.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Buongiorno, Ciao or Salve? Italian Greetings Made Easy

When in doubt, say salve and mirror the reply. Here's how to pick between buongiorno, buonasera, ciao and salve so your Italian greetings never sound rude.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Most Common Italian Verbs: The 10 That Unlock Speech

Drill these 10 most common Italian verbs first and you unlock past tense, modals, and the progressive — a 7-day plan with every present-tense form to memorize.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Present Tense: -are, -ere, -ire Verbs

Conjugate Italian present-tense verbs fast: one color-coded chart for -are, -ere, and -ire endings, plus the sneaky -isc- group most guides bury.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Essential Italian Travel Phrases (With Vorrei)

Vorrei means I would like — the politest, most useful Italian travel phrase. Learn five reusable frames to order, ask prices, and find your way in Italy.

June 5, 2026 5 min read