Depende

Depende is primarily known as a Spanish term, functioning as the present indicative form of the verb depender, meaning "to depend." In everyday use it translates to "it depends" and appears in phrases such as "depende de" (depends on). In addition to its verb form, depender and its derivatives are common in many Spanish-speaking regions, where the word helps express conditionality or uncertainty about outcomes.

Etymology and forms: Depender comes from Latin dependere, built from de- (away, down) and pendere (to hang, to weigh). The form "depende" is used with a third-person subject (él/ella/usted) in the present tense, while other forms include "dependemos" (we depend) and "dependen" (they depend). The construction "depende de..." is the standard way to specify dependence on a factor or condition.

Usage and examples: In Spanish, "Depende" is a common, neutral response in dialogue. Examples: "¿Vas a venir?" "Depende." or "Depende de la hora." It can also introduce a clause: "La decisión depende de los resultados." The phrase is versatile across dialects and registers, from informal speech to formal writing.

Filipino usage: The word depen de has been borrowed into Filipino/Tagalog as "depende," used with the same meaning. It appears in everyday conversation and online communication to indicate that the outcome is conditional on a factor or choice, mirroring its Spanish origin.

See also: Depender, dependent, and conditional sentences.