mangiate

Mangiate is a form of the Italian verb mangiare, meaning "to eat." It corresponds to the second-person plural subject voi in the present tense and can appear in the present indicative, the present subjunctive, or as the imperative mood when addressing a group. In all three cases, the spelling is identical: mangiate.

In the present indicative, voi mangiate means "you all eat." For example: Voi mangiate la pizza ogni venerdì. In the present subjunctive, used after expressions such as è importante che, voi mangiate; for example: È importante che voi mangiate regolarmente. In the imperative, Mangiate! serves as a direct command to a group, meaning "Eat!"

Etymology and history: mangiate derives from Latin manducare, meaning to chew or to eat. The Italian verb mangiare entered the language through Vulgar Latin and developed into its modern conjugation system, with mangiate serving as the usual form for the voi subject in multiple moods.

Usage notes: The form is common in everyday Italian for addressing multiple people, whether simply describing action (you all eat), expressing a wish or requirement (it is necessary that you eat), or issuing a directive (eat). Because the imperative form for voi is identical to the indicative, context is essential for interpretation.

See also: mangiare, Italian verb conjugation, Italian grammar.