rePItan

Repitan is a form of the Spanish verb repetir (to repeat). It functions as the present subjunctive form for ellos/ellas/ustedes, and as the affirmative imperative for ustedes (you all). In other words, repitan can express a command to a group or a hypothetical or desired action in subordinate clauses requiring the subjunctive, as in Es posible que repitan la tarea.

Origin and verb family: Repetir comes from Latin repetere, meaning to seek again or to repeat. In modern Spanish, repetir is a stem-changing -ir verb. In the present subjunctive, the stem changes from e to i (repita, repitas, repita, repitamos, repitáis, repitan), illustrating the regular e→i alternation in this mood.

Usage notes: Repitan is commonly heard in classroom or formal settings directed at a group. Examples include Repitan después de mí (Repeat after me) or Es necesario que repitan el procedimiento (It is necessary that you all repeat the procedure). Because it is the ustedes form, repitan is widely used in Latin America and in formal written Spanish. In Spain, the corresponding vosotros forms would be repitáis (imperative in informal plural) and the subjunctive forms mirror repitan for ustedes.

Pronunciation: repitan is pronounced re-PI-tan, with the stress on the second syllable.

See also: repetir, subjuntivo, imperativo.