Imperative of -ar Verbs

Level 1

The imperative gives an order, a request or an invitation.

How It Works

WhoparlarescotarMeaning
tuparlaescotaspeak, listen
nosautres (let's)parlemescotemlet's speak, let's listen
vosautres, vosparlatzescotatzspeak, listen

You need no pronoun: the command speaks to the person in front of you. The tu form is the present without the final -s: parlas becomes parla.

These forms are for telling someone to do something. Telling someone not to do it uses other forms (Parles pas!), which come later, so do not just add pas to parla.

A polite request is softer with se vos plai: Escotatz, se vos plai.

Examples (4)

  1. Canta en occitan!

    Sing in Occitan!

    Canta is the tu command.

  2. Escota, Maria!

    Listen, Maria!

    Escota drops the -s of escotas.

  3. Parlem amb Joan!

    Let's speak with Joan!

    Parlem includes the speaker.

  4. Cantatz amb nosautres!

    Sing with us!

    Cantatz is for several people or a polite request.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present tu form as a command.

    Escotas!
    Escota!

    The command for tu drops the -s: escota, not escotas.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Imperative of -ar VerbsLevel 1

Learn This First

Commands are built on the -ar present and on the choice between tu and vos, so both come first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.