prendi

Prendi is an Italian word that serves mainly as a verb form of prendere. It can be the second-person singular present indicative, meaning "you take," or the informal imperative meaning "take!" when addressing someone familiar. It is common in everyday speech and writing.

Conjugation: The related verb prendere follows the standard -ere conjugation pattern. In the present tense: io prendo, tu prendi, lui prende, noi prendiamo, voi prendete, loro prendono. The imperative forms include "prendi" (tu) and "prendete" (voi); the formal polite form is "prenda" (Lei). The past participle is preso, used with avere to form compound tenses (ho preso, hai preso).

Origin and cognates: Prendi derives from prendere, from Latin prehendere, meaning to seize or grasp. It is cognate with French prendre, Spanish prender, and Portuguese prender.

Usage notes: In sentences, prendi is typically followed by a direct object, e.g., "Prendi questa penna" or "Prendi un caffè." With pronouns, Italian allows attachment or resumption as in "Prendilo" or "Prendila." The form also appears in idiomatic expressions and directions, such as recipes or instructionals.