Affermano

Affermano is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Italian verb affermare, meaning to affirm, declare, or assert. It is used when the subject of the sentence consists of multiple people or entities performing the act of affirming in the present tense, for example: I ricercatori affermano che i dati sono affidabili.

Etymology and forms: Affermare comes from the Latin affirmare, formed from ad- plus firmare, to make firm or strengthen. In Italian, affermare yields various conjugated forms such as affermo (first person singular), affermi (second person singular), afferma (third person singular), and affermano (third person plural). The form affermano is therefore a standard, neutral grammatical construction in written and spoken Italian.

Usage and nuances: Affermano is commonly used in formal writing, journalism, and academic contexts to report statements or positions asserted by multiple subjects. It often introduces a clause that presents a claim, finding, or conclusion attributed to those subjects. The verb conveys assertion rather than experience or perception, and its strength can vary with context depending on the credibility of the speakers and the evidence cited.

Examples:

- I ricercatori affermano che l’esperimento è stato replicabile.

- Alcuni testimoni affermano di aver visto l’incidente.

See also: affermare, affermazione, aggiornare.