The Italian verb pensare (to think) can be followed by two different prepositions: a or di. They have different meanings and are not interchangeable. So when do you use one or the other? Let’s see together!
In short
- Pensare a + person or thing = to think about: Penso a te. (I’m thinking about you.)
- Pensare di + infinitive = to plan, to intend, to believe: Penso di partire domani. (I’m thinking of leaving tomorrow.)
- Cosa pensi di…? = what’s your opinion of…? Cosa pensi di Roma?
- Pensare che + subjunctive = to think that: Penso che sia vero.
- Ci penso = I’ll think about it; Che ne pensi? = What do you think (of it)?
Pensare a: to think about someone or something
With pensare a, the person, place or thing is the object of your thoughts: it’s who or what you have in mind.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Penso spesso a mia nonna, che vive in Sicilia. | I often think about my grandmother, who lives in Sicily. |
| L’insegnante pensa ai suoi studenti. | The teacher thinks about her students. |
| Devo pensare al mio futuro. | I need to think about my future. |
| Penso sempre all’Italia. | I always think about Italy. |
Remember that a combines with the article: al, allo, alla, ai, agli, alle. See my guide to Italian prepositions.
Pensare a + infinitive: to take care of, to focus on
Followed by a verb, pensare a means “to take care of something” or “to focus on doing something”:
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Pensa a studiare invece di guardare il telefono! | Focus on studying instead of looking at your phone! |
| Alla cena ci penso io. | I’ll take care of dinner. |
Pensare di: intention or opinion
With pensare di + an infinitive, you express an intention, a plan or something you believe about yourself:
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Penso di andare al cinema stasera. | I’m thinking of going to the movies tonight. (intention) |
| Cosa pensate di fare quest’estate? | What are you planning to do this summer? (intention) |
| Penso di aver capito il problema. | I think I’ve understood the problem. (belief) |
In questions like Cosa pensi di…? + a noun, pensare di asks for an opinion:
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Cosa pensi di lui? | What do you think of him? |
| Cosa pensi di questo libro? | What do you think of this book? |
Pensare che: to think that
When the subject of the second part of the sentence is different, use pensare che + the subjunctive:
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Penso che Marco abbia ragione. | I think Marco is right. |
| Pensi che arrivi in tempo? | Do you think she’ll arrive on time? |
Compare: Penso di avere ragione (I think I am right, same subject) and Penso che tu abbia ragione (I think you are right, different subject).
Ci penso and che ne pensi?
In everyday Italian, you’ll often hear pensare with ci and ne:
- Ci replaces a + something: Pensi al viaggio? Sì, ci penso spesso. And the very common Ci penso io! (I’ll take care of it!)
- Ne replaces di + something: Che ne pensi? (What do you think of it?)
Read more about ci and ne in Italian.
The difference at a glance
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| pensare a + noun | to think about | Penso a te. |
| pensare a + infinitive | to take care of, to focus on | Pensa a studiare! |
| pensare di + infinitive | to plan, to intend, to believe | Penso di chiamarti domani. |
| cosa pensi di + noun? | opinion | Cosa pensi di Roma? |
| pensare che + subjunctive | to think that | Penso che sia vero. |
Quick exercise: pensare a or pensare di?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between pensare a and pensare di?
Pensare a means “to think about” someone or something (Penso a te). Pensare di + infinitive means “to plan” or “to intend” (Penso di partire). In questions, Cosa pensi di…? asks for an opinion.
How do you say “What do you think?” in Italian?
Che ne pensi? or Cosa ne pensi? (What do you think of it?). With a specific noun: Cosa pensi di questo film?
When do you use pensare che?
When the second part of the sentence has a different subject: Penso che tu abbia ragione (I think you are right). It is followed by the subjunctive.
Pensare a, pensare di and che ne pensi? come up in every conversation, and in my stories too. Here are three to see them in context, with audio:
Gioielli, Caffè e Firenze
Level B1+
Marie moves to Florence, where jewelry making leads to a new life.
7 Romance Short Stories in Italian
Level B1/B2
Seven stories about love and everyday life, full of natural conversations.
