coloquen

Coloquen is a conjugated form of the Spanish verb colocar. It is the present subjunctive form used for third-person plural subjects (ellos/ellas/Uds) and also serves as the affirmative imperative for ustedes when issuing a command. For example: Coloquen los libros sobre la mesa. The form can appear in both subordinate clauses, such as "Espero que coloquen las sillas," and as a direct instruction to a group.

Etymology and conjugation: Colocar is a regular -ar verb, but its present subjunctive requires a spelling change before the endings to preserve the /k/ sound before e. The full present-subjunctive paradigm is: yo coloque, tú coloques, él/ella/Ud coloque, nosotros coloquemos, vosotros coloquéis, ellos/Uds coloquen. Therefore, coloquen is the 3rd-person plural present subjunctive form and, when used as a command, the affirmative ustedes form.

Usage notes: Coloquen is common in formal or instructional registers, such as manuals, recipes, or procedural texts. In everyday speech, speakers may choose alternative verbs like pongan (from poner) depending on context and formality. Colocar generally conveys placing or positioning objects with some intentional arrangement, and its subjunctive and imperative uses help express instructions, expectations, or requests directed at a group.