Proteggono

Proteggono is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Italian verb proteggere, meaning "they protect." It is used to indicate that a group or multiple subjects are performing the action of protection, whether toward people, objects, rights, or ideas. The verb proteggere derives from Latin proteggere, from pro- (forward, in front) and tegere (to cover or guard).

In present tense, the forms are: io proteggo, tu proteggi, lui/lei protegge, noi proteggiamo, voi proteggete, loro proteggono. Notably, the first-person singular is proteggo, which is irregular.

Proteggere is transitive, so proteggono is followed by a direct object: proteggono i dati, proteggono i bambini, proteggono la privacy. It also appears in expressions about safeguarding or defending in politics, law, medicine, and daily life.

Related terms include protezione (protection) and protetto (protected; past participle of proteggere). The word is common in journalism, legislation, and civic discourse.