Mettersi is an Italian verb that non-native speakers might find not so easy to use. However, it is widely used in conversational Italian and you might want to know how to use it.
Before learning the meaning of this peculiar verb, let’s have a look at conjugation of the verb in presene and passato prossimo.
Presente of mettersi
- mi metto
- ti metti
- si mette
- ci mettiamo
- vi mettete
- si mettono
Passato prossimo of mettersi
- mi sono messo/a
- ti sei messo/a
- si è messo/a
- ci siamo messi/e
- vi siete messi/e
- si sono messi/e
Now let’s work out the different meanings of the verb mettersi.
METTERSI = PUTTING ON
TO PUT ON a piece of clothing or accessories
- Mi metto sciarpa e cappello per uscire oggi, fa proprio freddo – I ‘m putting on a scarf and a hat to go out today, it’s really cold
- Ti metti una gonna o i pantaloni per la cerimonia? – Are you putting on a skirt or a pair of trausers for the cerimony?
- Luca si mette gli occhi da sole anche in inverno – Luca is putting on shades even in the winter
METTERSI = TURNING OUT WELL (or BADLY)
- Le cose si mettono bene per Franco, ha appena ricevuto una bella promozione a lavoro – Things are turning out well for Franco, he’s just got a promotion at work
- Le cose si mettono male per Federica, ha perso il lavoro e ha finito i soldi – Things are turning out badly for Federica, she lost her job and finished the money
METTERSI = STARTING
Mettersi means to start doing something, but just when it is used with the preposition “a” followed by an infinite verb.
- Domani mi metto a dieta – Tomorrow I am starting a diet
- Patrizia si è messa a studiare russo – Patrizia started to learn Russian
- Matteo si mette a fare i compiti – Matteo starts to do his HW
METTERSI = STAYING
Mettersi means also to stay and it is mainly used in the Italian slang.
- Mettersi seduto – stay sit
- Mettersi qui – stay here
- Mettersi in piedi – stay still
METTERSI = IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
Also, the verb mettersi appears in man Italian idiomatic expressions. There are the most popular ones:
Mettersi in proprio: to set up one’s own business
Mettersi a letto: to go to bed
Mettersi in agitazione : to get worked up
Mettersi all’opera : to get down to
Mettersi da parte: to back away, to set oneself aside
Mettersi d’accordo su/con: to agree on/with
Mettersi in cattiva luce : to appear in a bad light
Mettersi in guardia: to take one’s guard
Mettersi insieme: to start having a love affair
Mettersi in malattia: to go on a sick leave
Mettersi l’anima in pace: to send one’s mind at rest
Mettersi nei panni di qualcuno: to put oneself in somebody else’s shoes
Mettersi nei guai: to get into troubles
Mettersi in contatto con qualcuno: to contact
Mettersi in fila: to start to queue
