Insistono

Insistono is the third person plural form of the Italian verb insistere in the present tense. It conveys persistence in demanding something or asserting a point with firmness, and it can imply pressure or insistence directed at others. The sense ranges from a firm request to a determined stance on an issue.

Etymology and form: insistere comes from Latin insistere, built from in- “on, upon” and sistere “to stand.” In Italian, insistono is used with plural subjects, while other present forms are insisto (io), insisti (tu), insiste (lui/lei), insistiamo (noi), insistete (voi).

Usage and constructions: one common construction is insistono che + congiuntivo, used to demand that someone do something, as in Insistono che venga o Insistono che i documenti siano disponibili. Another frequent pattern is insistono nel + infinito or nel + gerundio, expressing persistence in a particular action, e.g., Insistono nel fare tutto da soli. A related form is insistono affinché + congiuntivo, similar in meaning to persuadere with a sense of urging.

Nuance and synonyms: insistono often carries a stronger, sometimes coercive, tone compared with persistere, which can be more neutral. Related nouns include l’insistenza (the insistence) and verbs such as ribadire (to reiterate) or premere (to press). The choice of construction—che + congiuntivo, nel + infinito, or affinché + congiuntivo—depends on what is being urged and the level of formality.