publiquen

Publiquen is a form of the Spanish verb publicar and a common example of how verb endings convey mood, person, and number. It can function as the present subjunctive form for the ustedes (you all) in subordinate clauses, and it is also the standard affirmative imperative form used with ustedes in formal address. In practice, the same word is used for both a request or instruction to publish, and for expressions that require a hypothetical or desired action in a clause.

Etymology and morphology: The verb publicar comes from the Latin publicare, based on publicus meaning “public.” The form publiquen is built from the stem public- plus the ending -en, which marks the second-person plural form in the present subjunctive and the corresponding formal imperative in Spanish. The pronunciation typically emphasizes the syllable around the stem, with no change in spelling beyond the usual -en ending.

Usage and examples: In subordinate clauses after verbs or expressions that express doubt, desire, necessity, or judgment, one might say: “Espero que publiquen el informe mañana.” In direct address to a group in a formal context, an instruction would be: “Publiquen esos documentos hoy mismo.” The two functions are linked by form rather than by separate lexical meaning.

See also: publicar, Spanish verb conjugation, present subjunctive, imperative mood, ustedes form.