Showing up in Italian

By Sigrid Lee

There are various ways to talk about showing up in Italian. They often involve the reflexive form of a verb. Let's look at some examples.

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Farsi vedere. We use the verb fare reflexively with the infinitive form of the verb vedere (to see). Literally, it means something to the effect of "to make/let oneself be seen." Sometimes it's about showing oneself or being seen.

Scusa, Diana, e se la persona che si firmava nel biglietto, quella che non voleva farsi vedere, non fosse una donna?

Excuse me, Diana, and if the person who signed the card, the one who didn't want to show himself, weren't a woman?

Captions 19-20, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP3 I giardini della memoria - Part 6
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In the previous example, someone didn't want to be seen. In the following example, however, it means to show up, to come around.

Non si sono fatti più vedere qua.

They never showed up here again.

They were never seen here again.

Caption 19, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP5 Rione Serra Venerdì - Part 7
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When you want someone to stay in touch, you can say:

Posso dire: "Fatti vedere ogni tanto, è un mese che non ci parliamo".

I can say: "Show up every now and then. We haven't talked to each other in a month."

Caption 13, Marika spiega Il verbo vedere - Part 2
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Another way to say something similar is farsi vivo (to make oneself alive). It doesn't make sense literally, but it can mean "to show up" or "to get in touch." It's a way to be non-specific about actually showing up, in other words, it can also imply calling or writing, since it doesn't use the verb vedere (to see).

Non credo si faccia vivo, comunque stia tranquillo.

I don't think he'll get in touch, but regardless, don't worry.

Caption 19, Il Commissario Manara S1EP6 - Reazione a Catena - Part 11
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Mi faccio vivo io. -Commissario,

I will be in touch. -Detective,

Caption 63, Provaci ancora prof! S2E4 L'amica americana - Part 11
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Another way to show up is with the reflexive verb presentarsi.

A parte la moglie di Rotunno, c'è anche un altro passeggero che non si è presentato:

Besides Rotunno's wife, there's another passenger who didn't show up:

Captions 81-82, Provaci ancora prof! S2EP1 - La finestra sulla scuola - Part 8
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Related to showing up, we have the verb comparire (to come into view).

Però, proprio per queste caratteristiche, è un cattivo che può comparire solo eccezionalmente.

However, precisely because of these characteristics, he is a villain who can only seldomly appear/be present.

Captions 39-40, Fumettology TEX - Part 5
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Aside: Similar to comparire is apparire, a cognate of the verb "to appear." In Italian, it is often used before an adjective and means "to seem" or "to appear to be." We'll explore the difference between apparire and comparire in a separate lesson.

Thanks for reading. You can practice using one of the expressions above when someone shows up or doesn't show up, or when you want someone to show up.