Riuscire Conjugation in Italian, Examples and Definition

Riuscire Definition:

To succeed or be successful

Riuscire Can Also Mean

• To be able 
• To manage
• To prove to be 

Many Italian learners struggle with the verb riuscire because it’s easy to confuse it with potere. In English, riuscire and potere often translate to “can,” which can make it difficult to know which one to use and when.

Here’s a brief explanation:

• Use potere when something can’t be done because of other people or external circumstances.
• Use riuscire when something can’t be done because we are physically or mentally unable to do it. In other words, the circumstances are internal.

You can use these verbs interchangeably, but each will give a different meaning.

Per esempio:

• Non posso bere alcolici – I can’t drink alcohol (maybe I’m underage).
• Non riesco a bere alcolici – I can’t drink alcohol (maybe I don’t like alcohol or I’ve already had too much).

Learning when and how to use riuscire will take time, but with practice, it will become second nature.

Here’s another important thing to note:

Riuscire is an irregular -ire verb, so you will need to memorize the conjugation tables below.

Riuscire Conjugation in Italian

Riuscire Presente Conjugation:

	Italian	English
io	Riesco	I am unable to
tu	Riesci	You are unable to
lui/lei	Riesce	He/she/it/formal is unable to
noi	Riusciamo	We are unable to
voi	Riuscite	You all are unable to
loro	Riescono	They are unable to

Riuscire Presente Examples

1. Non vi riesco a spiegare l’emozione = I am unable to explain the emotion.
2. Buonanotte, a chi riesce a dormire = Goodnight to those who can sleep.
3. Riuscite a trovare sempre il tempo per leggere? = Can you always find time to read?

Riuscire Passato Prossimo Conjugation

	Italian	English
io	Sono riuscito	I was unable to
tu	Sei riuscito	You were unable to
lui/lei	È riuscito/a	He/she/it/formal were unable to
noi	Siamo riusciti	We were unable to
voi	Siete riusciti	You all were unable to
loro	Sono riusciti	They were unable to

Riuscire Passato Prossimo Examples

1. Secondo te ci siamo riusciti? = Do you think we succeeded?
2. Loro sono riusciti a capirlo = They managed to figure it out
3. Alla fine c’è riuscito = Eventually, he succeeded

Riuscire Futuro Semplice Conjugation:

	Italian	English
io	Riuscirò	I will be unable to
tu	Riuscirai	You will be unable to
lui/lei	Riuscirà	He/she/it/formal will be unable to
noi	Riusciremo	We will be unable to
voi	Riuscirete	You all will be unable to
loro	Riusciranno	They will be unable to

Riuscire Futuro Semplice Examples

1. Riuscirò a farmi strada = I will be able to make my way.
2. Riuscirai a trovarmi = You will be able to find me.
3. Riuscirete ancora ricordare il mio nome = You guys will still be able to remember my name.

Riuscire Imperfetto Conjugation:

	Italian	English
io	Riuscivo	I had been unable to
tu	Riuscivi	You had been unable to
lui/lei	Riusciva	He/she/it/formal had been unable to
noi	Riuscivamo	We had been unable to
voi	Riuscivate	You all had been unable to
loro	Riuscivano	They had been unable to

Riuscire Imperfetto Examples

1. Non riuscivo a staccarle gli occhi di dosso = I was not able to take my eyes off her.
2. Ricordo ancora quando non riuscivamo a dormire = I still remember when we couldn’t sleep.
3. Si cercavano e non riuscivano a smettere = They had searched for each other and couldn’t stop.