Preoccupo

Preoccupo is an Italian verb form that can function in two related ways. It can be used as a transitive form meaning “I worry someone,” as in Io preoccupo te, or, more commonly, as the first-person present indicative of the reflexive verb preoccuparsi, meaning “I worry” or “I become worried” (io mi preoccupo). The reflexive usage expresses a personal emotional state, while the transitive usage conveys causing worry to another person.

Etymology and related forms

Preoccupo derives from occuparsi (to occupy oneself) with the prefix pre-, indicating forethought or anticipation. The underlying verb occuparsi comes from Latin occupārī, related to occupāre (to seize or occupy) and the notion of occupying one’s thoughts. The related non-reflexive verb precoccupare exists in modern Italian as a transitive verb meaning “to preoccupy” or “to worry someone,” whereas preoccuparsi remains the common reflexive form for personal concern.

Usage and grammar

In the reflexive sense, the present tense forms are: io mi preoccupo, tu ti preoccupi, lui/lei si preoccupa, noi ci preoccupiamo, voi vi preoccupate, loro si preoccupano. In practice, this describes a state of worry about ongoing or future matters, often with di or per to introduce the topic (mi preoccupo di/per i prossimi esami). In the transitive sense, the verb is conjugated like other -are verbs: io preoccupo, tu preoccupi, lui/lei preoccupa, noi preoccupiamo, voi preoccupate, loro preoccupano, and a pronoun such as mi, ti, gli, ci, vi, gli can follow to indicate who is worried.

Examples

Mi preoccupo per la salute di mia nonna. This incidenti mi preoccupa. Non voglio preoccupare te. In English this is commonly rendered as “I worry,” “This worries me,” or “I worry someone.”

See also

preoccuparsi, preoccupare, worry, anxiety.