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Perception Verbs — Verbi di Percezione·Udire vs Sentire — Formal and Literary Contexts
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Rule reminder

Both 'udire' and 'sentire' mean 'to hear' acoustically, but 'udire' is literary, formal, or archaic. 'Udire' is used in written narratives, poetry, legal language, and high-register contexts. Both take a bare infinitive for direct auditory perception. In everyday speech, 'sentire' is always preferred.

Udire vs Sentire — Formal and Literary Contexts1 / 10

In a literary narrative: 'Il cavaliere _____ le grida dei nemici in lontananza.'

More in this section

→ Mixed Perception Verbs — All Structures→ Perception Verbs — Fill in the Structure→ Sentire — Acoustic vs Emotional Meaning→ Vedere — Figurative and Extended Uses
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