intraprendere

Intraprendere is an Italian verb that means to undertake, to begin, or to embark on a task, project, journey, or enterprise. It is commonly used with a direct object, for example intraprendere un progetto, intraprendere una carriera, intraprendere un viaggio. The term often conveys a deliberate, planned action that involves commitment and sometimes risk.

Etymology and cognates: the verb is formed from the prefix in- combined with prendere, “to take.” The sense of taking on a task or venture places intraprendere alongside related Romance forms such as French entreprendre, Spanish emprender, and Portuguese empreender, all of which express the idea of undertaking something.

Usage and nuance: intraprendere is suitable in formal and semi-formal contexts and frequently appears in discussions of business, education, and personal development. It tends to imply a chosen path with an element of initiative, as opposed to more neutral verbs like iniziare (to begin) or cominciare. Related terms include intraprendenza (enterprise, initiative) and the adjective intraprendente (enterprising). The noun imprenditore is the standard term for an entrepreneur, while intraprendere describes the action rather than the person.

Examples: Intraprendere una carriera in ingegneria, intraprendere un nuovo progetto aziendale, intraprendere un viaggio intorno al mondo.

See also: intraprendenza, intraprendente, imprenditore.