In a previous lesson we talked about the verb seguire (to follow). Here are two other words that have the same root and are related, but mean something else: Proseguire and inseguire.

Proseguire (to continue)

In Italian, we can use the verb continuare, an easy cognate, but sometimes it's nice to change. Proseguire is a verb you will hear a lot, especially when someone is giving you directions. 

Come posso arrivare alla spiaggia più vicina? Guarda, se proseguite  sulla strada che fat' [sic] stavate facendo...

How can I reach the closest beach? Look, if you continue on the road you tak [sic] were taking...

Captions 17-18, Una gita al lago - Part 1

 Play Caption

Il nostro viaggio prosegue in Piemonte,

Our journey continues in Piedmont,

Caption 7, Meraviglie EP. 5 - Part 4

 Play Caption

banner PLACEHOLDER

You might ask, "Is there a difference between continuare and proseguire?" Well, much of the time they are interchangeable, but sometimes continuare can imply that you keep doing the same thing. 

Continuo a non capire (I still don't understand).

But with proseguire, you continue on, you advance, you proceed. Think of an arrow in one direction. 

Prosegua pure, prego.

Go ahead and continue, please.

Caption 35, PsicoVip La lavatrice - Ep 23

 Play Caption

We could also have translated this with the verb "to proceed."

There is a noun form of this word: il proseguo.

...questa è diventata una, una realtà e sicuramente, eh, anche per il proseguo...

...this has become a, a reality and surely, uh, also for the aftermath...

Caption 40, Calcio Intervista con il Prof. Cravero

 Play Caption

When you are saying goodbye to someone, instead of saying  buona giornata or buona serata, you might say, buon proseguimento if you know that whomever you are saying goodbye to is off to do something else, not just going home.

Buon proseguimento (I wish you well in whatever you do next).

Or 

Per il telegiornale oggi è tutto, io vi auguro un buon proseguimento  di giornata.

That's all for the newscast for today. I wish you a good rest of the day.

Captions 56-57, Anna e Marika in TG Yabla Italia e Meteo - Part 4

 Play Caption

Inseguire (to chase, to pursue)

Allora, il ragioniere, terrorizzato, scappa verso il salone, ma Menicucci lo insegue e gli spara una seconda volta.

So the accountant, terrified, runs towards the living room, but Menicucci chases him down and shoots him a second time.

Captions 51-52, Provaci ancora prof! S2EP1 - La finestra sulla scuola - Part 23

 Play Caption

We can also use the word "to follow" as a translation, but the intention changes from seguire.

We have a noun associated with this word, too: l'inseguimento (the chase, the pursuit).

Ma i bolidi sfreccianti verso Parma sembrano sfidare il nostro inseguimento celeste.

But the race cars speeding towards Parma seem to defy our airborne pursuit.

Captions 9-10, La Mille Miglia del passato per vivere quella di oggi - Part 2

 Play Caption

Let's add one more word!

Susseguirsi (to follow one another in succession)

We have inserted this verb with its reflexive ending, which is actually a reciprocal form, and is used as a noun in our example, something that's quite common.

Ora è il turno della parola: tempo, con la quale indichiamo il susseguirsi dei minuti, delle ore, dei giorni.

Now, it's time for the word "tempo," with which we indicate the passing of minutes, hours, days.

Captions 46-47, Marika spiega Parole con più significati - Part 1

 Play Caption

We can visualize the seconds following one another on a clock... We can talk about un susseguirsi di eventi (a chain of events or a series of events).

For more on the reflexive versus reciprocal verbs, see this video, presented by Marika. 

For a lesson in English that explains the reciprocal form of verbs, see this lesson. 

We hope we haven't filled your brain with words that are too similar. Please work on each one separately if you if that works best for you!

banner PLACEHOLDER