desçam

Desçam is a Portuguese verb form derived from descer (to descend). It is the present subjunctive third-person plural form (eles/elas) and, in contemporary usage, the imperative form for the second-person plural (vocês) when issuing a command. The full present-subjunctive paradigm for descer is: eu desça, tu desças, ele desça, nós desçamos, vós desçaís, eles desçam. The form desçam thus serves both as a subjunctive and as the command form for you all in many contexts.

Usage and meaning

The present subjunctive is used in subordinate clauses to express doubt, desire, possibility, necessity, or emotion, for example: “Espero que eles desçam com cuidado.” It indicates a non-factual or desired action rather than a plain statement. In direct imperatives addressing a group (vocês), desçam is commonly used: “Desçam as escadas com cuidado.” The form is also encountered in more formal or urgent instructions, particularly in Brazilian Portuguese.

Etymology

Desçam comes from the verb descer, which traces to Latin descendere meaning to go down, formed with de- plus a root related to climbing (scendere/ascendere family). The modern Portuguese verb retains the core meaning of going downward.

Notes

Desçam is primarily a grammatical form rather than a standalone lexical item. Its correct use depends on the grammatical mood (subjunctive) and the person/number being addressed. In everyday speech, its imperative sense for vocês is among the most common uses.