smettono

Smettono is the Italian verb form meaning “they stop” or “they quit.” It is the third‑person plural present indicative of smettere, a verb that broadly denotes the cessation of an activity or the abandonment of a habit. The conjugation is regular for -ere verbs: io smetto, tu smetti, lui/lei smette, noi smettiamo, voi smettete, loro smettono.

The verb appears most frequently in everyday speech to describe the termination of activities such as smoking, drinking, or working. For example, “Loro smettono di fumare” means “They quit smoking.” In legal or formal contexts, smettere is used to indicate the discontinuation of practices or commitments, for instance “La legge sussiste al fine di smettere di contaminare l’acqua.” In such usage, smettere functions as an imperative or command, whereas smettono reflects an ordinary opis.

In idiomatic expressions, smettere is coupled with gerunds or infinitives: “smettere di fare” (to stop doing) and “smettere di dire” (to stop saying). The form “smettono” appears in persuasive or narrative sentences: “Non smettono, ma continuano a lottare” (They do not stop, but keep fighting). The verb occasionally appears in subjunctive or conditional forms in literature.

Smettere is etymologically derived from the Latin smettere, itself borrowed from the French smettre meaning “to cease.” The French root is a variation of mettre (to put) with the prefix s- denoting separation. The Italian verb has retained the sense of ending or withdrawing from an action.

Although it is principally a verb, "Smettono" can also occur as a proper noun in some family names or place names, though these usages are relatively rare. In genealogical records in southern Italy, the surname appears occasionally, but no major historical figure or location is typically discussed under this name.