Preferendo

Preferendo is an Italian word that functions primarily as the present participle of the verb preferire (to prefer) or as a gerund in non-finite clauses. In Italian, gerunds express attendant circumstances or the manner in which an action occurs, and preferendo is used to indicate what someone is preferring while another action takes place. The form reflects its Latin ancestry, derived from the verb praefere or praeferre, from which many Romance languages borrow their equivalent meanings of “to prefer.”

Usage and meaning

As a present participle, preferendo can form phrases with auxiliary or main verbs to convey ongoing preference. It is common in written and spoken Italian when describing choices or priorities that influence subsequent actions. The gerund sense often translates into English as “preferring” or “by preferring,” depending on context. It is not used to negate or to create continuous tenses on its own but rather to connect two actions in a sentence and indicate a preference that shapes the outcome.

Examples

- Preferendo la qualità, ha scelto il prodotto più costoso. (Preferring quality, he chose the more expensive product.)

- Preferendo rimanere a casa, non partecipò all’evento. (Preferring to stay at home, he did not attend the event.)

Notes

Outside of Italian grammar, preferendo does not denote a separate concept or entity in major linguistic or technical literature. It can appear in translations, literature, and colloquial speech wherever the notion of “preferring” must be expressed as a non-finite action.