prendete

Prendete is the second-person plural form of the Italian verb prendere, meaning to take or to seize. It occurs in two grammatical functions: as the present indicative form for the subject voi (you all take) and as the voi imperative (take!), used to give a command to a group. Because Italian imperatives for voi mirror the present indicative form, the same word prendete serves both functions depending on context. The negative imperative is formed with non: “non prendete.”

Pronunciation is roughly pren-DE-te, with the stress on the second syllable. Prendere is a transitive verb and commonly combines with a direct object, for example: Prendete questa penna (Take this pen). It can also appear in idiomatic or figurative expressions, such as order or instruction in everyday speech.

Etymology traces prendere to the Latin prehendere, from which it inherited a sense of seizing or grasping. This lineage links Italian prend- to related verbs in other Romance languages, such as French prendre, Spanish prender, and Portuguese prender, all sharing a common Latin root.

In usage, prendete appears in instructions, menus, directions, or any context addressing a group. The form is versatile, functioning as a simple present statement about a group’s action or as a direct command, with nuance determined by tone and accompanying context.