Applaudere

Applaudere is an Italian verb meaning to clap, to applaud, or to express approval or praise. It is transitive and in many contexts also used intransitively, for example when describing a crowd that applauds after a performance or when someone expresses support for a person, idea, or decision. The action can be physical clapping as well as figurative endorsement.

Etymology and related terms: applaudere derives from Latin plaudere, meaning to clap or to acclaim, with the prefix that gave rise to the Italian form applaud- plus the infinitive ending -ere. The noun applauso (and the related applauso) is commonly used in Italian to refer specifically to the act or sound of applause; applaudimento is a longer or more formal version of the same idea.

Conjugation and typical forms: applaudere is a regular -ere verb in most tenses. Present indicative forms include io applaudo, tu applaudi, lui/lei applaude, noi applaudiamo, voi applaudete, loro applaudono. The passato prossimo is formed with avere plus the past participle applaudito, as in ho applaudito. Imperfect tense forms are applaudivo, applaudivi, applaudiva, applaudavamo, applaudivate, applaudivano. The verb also yields standard other tenses, such as future (applauderò, applaudirai, applauderebbe, applaudiremo, applaudirete, applauderebbero) and conditional (applauderei, applaudresti, applauderebbe, applauderemmo, applaudeste, applauderebbero).

Usage notes: Applaudere is commonly used with a direct object when praising a person (applaudire qualcuno) and with no object when describing the act itself (gli spettacoli hanno attirato l’applauso del pubblico). Synonyms include elogiare in a broader sense, while the noun form applauso is the standard term for applause in everyday language.