era il

was the

→ essere

phrase Uncommon #11,172

was the Used for a masculine singular noun; depending on context, the subject can be “he,” “it,” or something understood.

IT: Era il mio vicino.

EN: He was my neighbor.

Era il Barry White dell'epoca.

He was the Barry White of his time.

— Quasi amici - Intouchables (2011)

Era il motto della scuola.

It was the school’s motto.

Era il preferito di Tom, sa.

It was Tom’s favorite, you know.

Il primo sogno era il più importante.

The first dream was the most important.

Stephan era il boss del Software.

Stephan was the boss of Software.

— Who Am I - No System Is Safe (2014)

Era il Portogallo.

It was Portugal.

Henry James era il romanziere, Frank James un criminale.

Henry James was the novelist, Frank James a criminal.

— Hollywood, Vermont (2000)

Era il figlio di Dio e guarda com'è finito.

He was the son of God, and look how he ended up.

— Questione di tempo (2013)

Era il ringraziamento per l'hamburger?

Was that your way of thanking me for the hamburger?

— Weathering with You - La ragazza del tempo (2019)

Ero convinto che era il tipico italiano nuovo.

I was convinced he was the typical new Italian.

— Il conformista (1971)

Mud Car mucchio-d'ossa era il lanciatore.

Mud Car Bonepile was the pitcher.

— Fa' la cosa giusta (1989)

Speciale quanto lo era il Nonno.

As special as Grandpa was.

— Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Il Castello dell’Infinito (2025)

Ma in realtà, era il BOPE che stava aiutando il sistema.

But actually, it was BOPE that was helping the system.

— Tropa de elite 2 - Il nemico ora è un altro (2010)

Era il campione del mondo.

He was the world champion.

— Marty Supreme (2025)

Tom era il più giovane.

Tom was the youngest.

Ti ho detto quant'era il sequestro.

I told you how much the seizure was.

— The Rip - Soldi sporchi (2026)

Romolo era il nipote di Numitore.

Romulus was the nephew of Numitor.

Era il Molo della Biblioteca, a Bibliotek, riservato alla nave della biblioteca.

It was Library Pier, at Bibliotek, reserved for the library ship.

Era il più anziano dei tre.

He was the oldest of the three.

Era il preferito di Tom, sai.

It was Tom’s favorite, you know.

E Tony era il più anziano.

And Tony was the oldest.

L'inizio era il Fight Club.

It all started with Fight Club.

— Fight Club (1999)

Era il taccuino dei codici.

It was the code notebook.

Era il basco.

It was the beret.

— Non dirlo a nessuno (2006)

Era il carburatore.

It was the carburetor.

— Vite vendute (1953)

Era il più intelligente di tutti.

He was the smartest of them all.

— Amarcord (1973)

Era il genere di situazione in cui bisogna procedere con la massima cautela.

It was the kind of situation where you had to proceed with the utmost caution.

Sono andato a trovare mio zio a New York, era il Giorno del Ringraziamento.

I went to visit my uncle in New York, it was Thanksgiving Day.

— The Big Sick - Il matrimonio si può evitare... l'amore no (2017)