The prefix pro- (forward)

Par Sigrid Lee

Over time, we've looked at various Italian prefixes and here is one more: pro-. We often don't think about it because pro- can simply be part of a word. But in many cases, there is a good chance the root exists as a word on its own. In a recent video on Yabla, the verb provenire came up. A reader asked: "What's the difference between venire and provenire?" Great question.

The answer is that provenire (while technically an action verb) has to do with the origin of something, whereas venire is an action, a movement in the direction of the speaker, writer, or interlocutor. In English, we do have the noun "provenance," from the Latin meaning "to come forth," but we usually translate provenire as "to come from," or "to originate from." So if we think of the prefix pro- meaning "forward" or "forth," it might help us remember these words.

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Venire - provenire (to come - to come from)

Penso che non ho tempo per fare la badante a nessuno, quindi tu organizza gli incontri e io vedo se riesco a venire.

I think I don't have time to be a babysitter for anyone, so you organize the meetings and I'll see if I can come.

Captions 56-57, La compagnia del cigno S2 EP 2 - Part 2
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Ora stanno cercando di capire da dove provengono...

Now they are trying to figure out where they come from...

Caption 49, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP6 Dalla parte degli ultimi - Part 22
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Vedere - provvedere (to see - to see to, to take care of)

E be', non fargli vedere il tuo libretto degli esami perché...

Well, don't let her see your exam record because...

Caption 27, Com'è umano lui Film - Part 6
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We can now see the connection between "provide" and provvedere, but we can also see the word vedere (to see), and so it makes sense to translate provvedere as "to see to." It can also be "to take care of."

Lo so, ho avuto tanto da fare. Domani provvedo, va bene?

I know. I have had a lot to do. Tomorrow I will see to it, all right?

Caption 39, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP1 I Bastardi - Part 17
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Mettere - promettere (to put - to promise)

Sei capace di studiare, sacrificarti, passare le notti insonni, mettere tutta la tua vita a servizio della musica, sei capace?

Are you capable of studying, sacrificing yourself, spending sleepless nights, putting your whole life at the service of music, are you capable?

Captions 31-33, La compagnia del cigno S2 EP 2 - Part 7
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Ma Lei mi deve promettere una cosa.

But you have to promise me one thing:

Caption 23, Moscati, l'amore che guarisce EP1 - Part 18
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The noun form is la promessa (the promise).

Porre — proporre (to place - to propose)

Dobbiamo porre nella teglia il pollo con le patate a spicchi,

In the pan, we have to place the chicken with the potato wedges,

Captions 6-7, JAMS S1 EP7 - Part 3
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Porre can also be reflexive, with a more figurative meaning of considering something.

Seconda cosa, visto che una è partita e l'altra si è fidanzata, io non mi pongo il problema, capito?

Second of all, since one is gone and the other is engaged, I don't consider the problem, you understand?

Captions 5-7, Il Commissario Manara S2EP11 - Uno strano incidente di caccia - Part 11
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Proporre is to put forth, as with an idea.

Bene. Cosa propone?

Good. What do you propose?

Caption 43, Il Commissario Manara S1EP4 - Le Lettere Di Leopardi - Part 10
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The noun form is la proposta (the proposal, the suggestion).

Trarre - protrarre (to pull, to draw - to prolong, to continue)

Although trarre is another word for tirare (to pull) it's frequently used in a figurative sense, as in drawing a conclusion or gaining an advantage.

Ma stavolta proprio il senso di colpa gli ha fatto trarre delle conclusioni affrettate,

But this time his guilty conscience made him draw hasty conclusions,

Captions 73-74, Imma Tataranni Sostituto procuratore S1 EP 4 Maltempo - Part 20
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Protrarre is used to refer to prolonging something over time.

La costruzione della Fortezza di Fenestrelle, iniziata nel millesettecentoventotto, si protrarrà per centoventi anni.

The construction of the Fenestrelle Fortress, begun in seventeen hundred and twenty-eight, would continue on for a hundred and twenty years.

Captions 14-16, Meraviglie EP. 5 - Part 4
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Muovere - promuovere (to move - to promote)

The reflexive form of the verb muovere is used here: muoversi.

Non ti muovere.

Don't move.

Caption 47, I Bastardi di Pizzofalcone S1EP4 Gelo - Part 13
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When you move forward in school, from one grade to the next, the verb is promuovere. It can be used as well, just as in English, when you promote someone or something, giving them publicity.

Com'è andata? -Mi hanno promosso.

How did it go? -They promoted me.

Caption 2, Non è mai troppo tardi EP 2 - Part 23
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Seguire - proseguire (to follow - to continue)

We talk about these verbs in this lesson.

The prefix pro- can also mean "entirely" — interamente. In the case of prosciutto (cured ham), it has to do with salting and drying: pro - asciutto (dry). The verb is prosciugare, to dry entirely. Prosciogliere is "to dissolve completely."

Thanks for reading. We hope you've gotten the idea of the prefix pro-. If you think of other words with this prefix, please let us know, and we'll add them to the lesson.