difendetevi

Difendetevi is the second-person plural imperative form of the Italian reflexive verb difendersi, meaning “defend yourselves” or “protect yourselves.” It is used to tell a group to take action to safeguard themselves from a threat, danger, or coercion.

Grammatical notes: The form combines the stem difend- with the voi imperative ending difendete and the reflexive clitic vi, yielding difendetevi. In standard Italian, clitic pronouns used with the imperative follow the verb, so the phrase is written and pronounced as a single unit.

Usage and context: Difendetevi appears in safety instructions, public advisories, and everyday conversation when addressing multiple people. It can refer to physical self-protection, protection against scams or harassment, or more general calls to look after one’s own interests as a group.

Examples:

- Difendetevi dalle frodi online. (Protect yourselves from online scams.)

- Difendetevi dal freddo. (Defend yourselves from the cold.)

- Difendetevi se qualcuno cerca di minacciarvi. (Defend yourselves if someone tries to threaten you.)

Etymology and related forms: The imperative derives from the verb difendere, with the reflexive pronoun vi. It is part of a broader set of Italian reflexive imperatives, such as sedetevi or lavatevi, used to address multiple people.

See also: Italian grammar; Imperative mood; Reflexive verbs; Difendere.