Usage Note
Sete uses avere (not essere) to express the state: Ho sete means 'I am thirsty' (literally 'I have thirst'). The idiom una sete di conoscenza ('a thirst for knowledge') is common. Do not confuse with seta ('silk'), which sounds similar but has a different final vowel.
Examples
"Ho molta sete dopo la corsa."
Natural Translation
I am very thirsty after the run.
Literal Translation
I-have much thirst after the run.

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