discutere

Discutere is an Italian verb meaning to discuss or to debate, to weigh arguments and examine a topic from different perspectives. It can also mean to argue with someone, especially in a more heated or direct exchange. In formal writing it denotes a deliberate analysis of a matter; in everyday speech it may imply disagreement or polemics depending on the context.

The verb derives from the Latin discutere, from dis- “apart” and quatere/cutere “to shake,” historically meaning to shake apart or examine in detail. Over time it acquired the sense of weighing evidence and considering different sides of an issue before forming a conclusion.

Discutere is a regular -ere verb. In the present indicative, the forms are: io discuto, tu discuti, lui/lei discute, noi discutiamo, voi discutete, loro discutono. The passato prossimo is formed with avere: ho discusso, hai discusso, ha discusso, abbiamo discusso, avete discusso, hanno discusso. Other tenses follow the standard -ere conjugation pattern, e.g., discutevo, discutevi, discuteva, discutavamo, discutevate, discutevano; future: discuterò, discuterai, discuterà, discuteremo, discuterete, discuteranno.

Discutere governs various constructions: discutere qualcosa (to discuss something), discutere di qualcosa (to discuss/talk about something), discutere con qualcuno (to discuss with someone). The related noun is discussione; the past participle is discusso, as in abbiamo discusso una proposta. The verb covers neutral discussion as well as argument, depending on tone and context.