What Does Pensarci Mean?
If you’re learning Italian, you’ve probably come across the little word pensarci. At first glance, it seems simple—it looks like pensare (“to think”) plus ci (“about it” or “there”).
But in real Italian, pensarci has several meanings, and Italians use it all the time.
Let’s break them down.
Pensarci = To Think About It
Literally, pensarci means to think about it.
- Ci penso e ti faccio sapere. → I’ll think about it and let you know.
- Devo pensarci prima di decidere. → I need to think about it before deciding.
Here, ci is a little pronoun that replaces about it (a questa cosa).
Pensarci = To Take Care of Something
Another common use of pensarci in Italian is to take care of something or to handle it.
- Non preoccuparti, ci penso io! → Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it!
- Ci pensa mio fratello. → My brother will handle it.
This is one of the most useful phrases in everyday Italian.
Conjugation of Pensarci (Present Tense)
| Person | Conjugation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| io | ci penso | Non ti preoccupare, ci penso io! → Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it! |
| tu | ci pensi | Ci pensi tu alla cena? → Will you take care of dinner? |
| lui/lei | ci pensa | Ci pensa Maria. → Maria will handle it. |
| noi | ci pensiamo | Ci pensiamo domani. → We’ll think about it tomorrow. |
| voi | ci pensate | Ci pensate troppo! → You all think about it too much! |
| loro | ci pensano | Ci pensano sempre i miei genitori. → My parents always take care of it. |
Useful Expressions with Pensarci
Here are some idiomatic expressions you’ll hear often:
- A pensarci bene… → On second thought…
- Non ci voglio neanche pensare! → I don’t even want to think about it!
- Senza pensarci due volte, mi sono trasferita a Roma. → Without thinking twice, I moved to Rome.
Is Pensarci a Pronominal Verb?
Yes! Pensarci is a pronominal verb.
A pronominal verb is a verb that combines with pronouns like ci, ne, si to create a new meaning that often can’t be understood just by translating word for word.
In pensarci, the base verb is pensare (“to think”). When you add the pronoun ci, the meaning shifts depending on the context:
- to think about it → Devo pensarci prima di decidere.
- to take care of it / handle it → Non ti preoccupare, ci penso io!
Remember: The best way to learn pronominal verbs (like me ne vado, cavarsela, mettercela tutta) is by seeing them in action and practicing them in context.
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