Alleati

Alleati is the Italian term for "allies," used to describe states, groups, or organizations that cooperate in pursuit of a common objective or that fight on the same side in a conflict. The plural is alleati and the singular is alleato. The word derives from the verb allearsi (to ally oneself) and ultimately from Latin alligare, meaning to bind or unite.

In historical contexts, gli Alleati designates coalitions of nations that fought together against a common adversary. In the First World War, the Allies typically referred to the United Kingdom, France, and Russia, with Italy joining in 1915 and the United States entering the war in 1917. In the Second World War, the principal Allied Powers were the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China, alongside numerous other countries such as France, Canada, Australia, and many others that contributed to the war effort. The Allied coordination occurred through military collaboration, intelligence sharing, and coordinated diplomacy, culminating in the defeat of the Axis powers in 1945.

In modern usage, alleati can describe any diplomatic or military partners formed through treaties, coalitions, or alliances. The term remains common in Italian discussions of international relations, where it can refer to members of formal alliances such as NATO or to broader coalitions of states cooperating on security, humanitarian, or political objectives. The concept emphasizes mutual support and shared interests among member parties, whether in historical wartime coalitions or contemporary international arrangements.