Truncated infinitives (infiniti tronchi): a small cut with a big effect

When reading Italian, you may come across forms like voler, poter, dover, andar, parlar, saper. These are not new verbs but truncated infinitives, (infiniti tronchi).

In simple terms:

The verb loses its final vowel (usually -e), keeping only the consonant ending.

Examples:

• volere → voler

• potere → poter

• dovere → dover

• andare → andar

• parlare → parlar

• vedere → veder

This phenomenon is called apocope, a phonetic process where a final sound disappears.

🎧 Why does Italian do this? Euphony and rhythm

Italian has a strong sense of euphony — the natural musicality of language. Truncating the infinitive often makes the sentence smoother, lighter, and more rhythmic, especially when two infinitives appear together.

Compare:

• volere incontrare → heavier, two full infinitives in a row

• voler incontrare → more fluid, less repetition of sounds

This is why writers often prefer the truncated form in:

• voler imparare, poter cambiare, dover decidere

• finir per litigare, sentir dire, lasciar perdere

It’s not a rule — it’s a stylistic choice.

📌 When truncated infinitives are common

1. Before another infinitive

This is the most frequent context:

• voler parlare

• poter entrare

• dover scegliere

• finir per discutere

The truncation avoids a “double-infinitive echo”.

2. With pronouns

In everyday Italian, infinitives often drop the final vowel before pronouns:

• farlo (fare + lo)

• dirlo (dire + lo)

• vederla (vedere + la)

• mandargli (mandare + gli)

These forms are so common that learners often don’t notice the apocope at all.

3. In fixed expressions

Some truncated infinitives have become idiomatic:

• andar via

• parlar chiaro

• far finta

• dir poco

• veder bene/male

These sound natural and are widely used.