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prendere

to take

verb PREN-deh-reh Common
Body & Health Movement

Origin: Latin prehendere, 'to grasp'

Also means

to catch

Usage Note

Prendere is one of Italian's most versatile verbs: prendere un caffè (to have a coffee), prendere l'autobus (to catch the bus), prendere freddo (to catch a cold). It uses avere as its auxiliary in compound tenses. The past participle is irregular: preso.

Examples

"Ho preso un caffè al bar."

Natural Translation

I had a coffee at the bar.

Literal Translation

I-have taken a coffee at-the bar.

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