decidiamo

Decidiamo is the first-person plural present indicative form of the Italian verb decidere, meaning to decide. It is used to express a decision made by the speaker and one or more others, and it can also function as an exhortation equivalent to “let’s decide” when addressing a group. In everyday language, decidiamo may introduce a plan or suggest a course of action, as in decisions that affect a shared outcome.

Etymology and grammar: the verb decidere comes from Latin decidere, often interpreted as de- “off, away” plus caedere “to cut,” reflecting the sense of cutting off alternatives to reach a determination. The full present indicative conjugation is io decido, tu decidi, lui/lei decide, noi decidiamo, voi decidete, loro decidono. Decidiamo is frequently followed by di + infinitive (decidiamo di fare, decidiamo di partire) or by che + subjunctive in more complex clauses (decidiamo che sia meglio partire).

Usage: decidiamo appears in both literal and figurative contexts. Examples include “Decidiamo dove andare a mangiare” (Let’s decide where to eat) and “Se decidiamo ora, arriveremo in tempo” (If we decide now, we’ll arrive on time). As with other Italian verb forms, omitting the subject is common: the meaning is clear from the verb ending.

See also: decidere, decisione, decision-making.