Offendete

Offendete is the second‑person plural imperative form of the Italian verb offendere, which means “to offend,” “to insult,” or “to affront.” The form is used when addressing more than one person, either directly or indirectly, to convey a command or suggestion. For example, a teacher might say “Offendete i vostri compagni con parole dure” (“Offend your classmates with harsh words”).

The imperative form of offendere follows the regular pattern for third‑conjugation verbs. Its singular form is “offenditi” for the informal “tu” and “offendete” for the formal or plural “voi.” In negative commands the auxiliary “non” is placed before the verb, giving “non offendete.” Because of its imperative nature, the form is often found in literature, theatrical scripts, and dialogues where the speaker wishes to emphasize the force of the directive.

In contemporary usage, the term can appear in literary criticism or social commentary, where authors may note the moral or ethical weight of offending someone. It is also occasionally employed rhetorically in political or satirical contexts, where “offendete” underscores a critique of those who have caused offence.

Related forms include the past participle “offeso” and the present participle “offendendo.” The verb belongings to the broader family of Italian verbs that convey objection or disturbance, and it often appears in idiomatic expressions such as “offendere gli occhi” (“to look at eyes in an offensive way”) and “buttarsi a faccia” (“to affront someone head‑on”).