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PhrasesOn the MetroTenete le porte libere!
B1

Tenete le porte libere!

Keep the doors clear!

Pronunciation

'Tenete' — te-NE-te. Stress on the second syllable; this is the voi (plural informal) imperative of 'tenere'.

When to use it

This is an announcement or instruction you may hear or say when passengers are crowding the doors and preventing them from closing properly.

What it means

'Tenete' is the voi imperative of 'tenere' (to keep/hold). 'Libere' agrees with 'porte' (feminine plural) meaning clear or free. The voi imperative form is used in public announcements directed at a group of people — it is also the form used by teachers to a class.

Variations

Non bloccare le porte.

Don't block the doors.

Singular informal imperative — talking to one person.

Le porte si chiudono, si allontani.

The doors are closing, please step back.

Formal Lei imperative — announcement style.

Per favore, spostatevi dalle porte.

Please move away from the doors.

Voi imperative with 'per favore' to soften it.

Mini Dialogue

— [altoparlante] Tenete le porte libere! — [passeggero] Dai, muovetevi! — [altro passeggero] Aspettate, c'è un passeggino. — [altoparlante] Le porte si chiudono.

— [speaker] Keep the doors clear! — [passenger] Come on, move! — [other passenger] Wait, there's a pram. — [speaker] The doors are closing.

Cultural Note

Italian metro platforms can become dangerously crowded during rush hour. The phrase 'lasciate uscire prima di entrare' (let people out before entering) appears on signs in many stations — a rule often ignored during busy periods.