sostieni

Sostieni is the second person singular present indicative form of the Italian verb sostenere, and also the informal singular imperative. It translates to “you sustain” or, as a command, “sustain” or “support.” The broader verb sostenere means to support, to uphold, or to sustain something, whether physically, financially, ethically, or argumentatively.

Etymology and related forms: Sostieni derives from the Latin sustinere (sub- + tenere, to hold up). In Italian, the same root appears in sostegno (support), sostenere (to sustain), and related terms. The verb conjugates with the usual -ere endings, yielding sostengo, sostieni, sostiene, sosteniamo, sostenete, sostengono in the present tense.

Usage: Sostieni is used with a direct object to indicate physical or figurative support. Examples include sostieni il peso (you uphold the weight) and sostieni le tue ragioni (you uphold your reasons). It can also introduce something one claims or maintains, as in sostieni che sia vero (you maintain/you claim that it is true). The imperative form Sostieni (with the same spelling as the present indicative) is used to urge someone to continue backing or supporting something; for plural or formal address, oggetto forms differ (sostenga, sostenete).

See also: sostenere, sostegno, sostegno economico, sostegno morale.

Notes: A common and flexible verb in both everyday and formal Italian, used across physical, social, and intellectual contexts.

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