ripetendo

Ripetendo is the Italian gerund form of the verb ripetere, meaning to repeat. It denotes an ongoing or accompanying action and is commonly used to link clauses or describe how an action is performed.

Etymology and form: Ripetere derives from Latin repetere, formed from re- “again” and petere “to seek, to go toward.” The gerund form ripetendo is used to express that the action of repeating accompanies or conditions the main clause.

Grammatical usage: In Italian, ripetendo functions as an adverbial gerund, connecting a subordinate idea to the main action. It can indicate simultaneity, manner, or cause. For example, Ripetendo l’esercizio, si migliora la memoria. This means that by repeating the exercise, memory improves. While common in informal and instructional writing, the gerund can be discouraged in highly formal prose in favor of subordinate clauses or other constructions.

Related terms: The noun ripetizione denotes repetition or reiteration, while the verb ripetere is the base form used across tenses. The concept shares its root with other Romance languages that employ similar gerund forms, such as repitiendo in Spanish or répétant in French, though each language uses its own grammatical rules.

Notes on style: The gerundial use of ripetendo is a useful tool for conciseness and flow, but excessive or ambiguous use—often referred to as “gerundio abusivo”—can reduce clarity. In formal writing, it may be preferable to rephrase with a finite verb or a subordinate clause.

See also: Ripetere, Ripetizione, Gerundio.