prendere

Prendere is a common Italian verb meaning “to take” or “to seize,” with a broad range of uses in everyday language. It covers physical taking, grasping, receiving, or acquiring something, as well as more figurative senses such as taking a decision, taking a ride, or taking medicine. The verb also appears in many fixed expressions and phrasal verbs that extend its meaning beyond a simple act of taking.

Etymology and related forms: Prendere derives from Latin prehendere, and is cognate with related Romance forms such as French prendre. In Italian it is an -ere verb with several irregularities in its root in various tenses (for example, present prendo, prendi, prende; past participle preso).

Usage and senses: As a transitive verb, prendere requires a direct object to specify what is taken (prendere una scatola, prendere una decisione). It is also used with prepositional phrases to indicate modes of transport (prendere l’autobus), meals or substances (prendere un caffè, prendere una medicina), or illnesses (prendere il raffreddore). The reflexive form prendersi is common for meanings like taking care of oneself (prendersi cura di), taking a vacation (prendersi una vacanza), or taking offense (prendersela).

Common idioms and constructions include prendere la parola (take the floor), prendere una decisione (make a decision), prendere in giro (tease or mock someone), and the proverb-like prendere due piccioni con una fava (to kill two birds with one stone).

Conjugation (selected forms): Present tense: prendo, prendi, prende, prendiamo, prendete, prendono. Past participle: preso. Other tenses follow standard -ere patterns with occasional irregular stems.