difendete

Difendete is an Italian verb form meaning you all defend. It is the second-person plural present indicative of the verb difendere, and it also functions as the voi imperative when giving a command, as in Difendete la vostra casa or Difendete i vostri diritti. The imperative form is identical in spelling to the present indicative for voi; the intended meaning is usually clear from context and intonation. When expressing the reflexive sense “defend yourselves,” Italian uses the non-reflexive form difendete plus the reflexive pronoun, forming difendetevi.

In standard usage, difendete appears in both declarative and directive contexts. As a verb of defense or protection, it can be applied to physical defense, legal rights, or auxiliary defenses in arguments or negotiations. It is common in everyday speech, journalism, and rhetorical or political texts where speakers urge a group to take protective action.

Etymologically, difendere comes from Latin defendere, meaning to ward off, protect, or defend. The root fend- is linked to the broader family of words dealing with defense and protection in Romance languages, with Italian retaining the original sense of warding off threats and maintaining security.

See also: and other forms of the same verb, such as difendo, difendi, difende, difendiamo, and difendete, as well as the related noun difesa (defense). In usage, the precise force of difendete emerges from context, whether as a statement of fact or a directive.