Aperto

Aperto is the Italian adjective meaning “open” or “not closed.” It agrees with the noun it modifies: aperto (masculine singular), aperta (feminine singular), aperti (masculine plural), and aperte (feminine plural). Common uses describe objects that are open, such as una porta aperta or un cassetto aperto. It also appears as the past participle of the verb aprire and is used with avere in compound tenses, for example ho aperto la finestra or abbiamo aperto una nuova strada.

In addition to descriptive use, aperto appears in fixed phrases and signage. For instance, aperto al pubblico means “open to the public,” and signs on shops commonly display Aperto to indicate that the business is currently open.

Etymology and related forms: aperto derives from the Latin aperire “to open,” through the development of the Italian verb aprire and its past participle. Related terms include apertura (opening) and the verb aprire (to open).

Usage notes: aperto is typically used for physical openness, while figurative senses such as una mente aperta (“an open mind”) are common in everyday Italian. When used as a past participle, its form agrees with the subject in gender and number, as in il libro è aperto (the book is open) versus la porta è aperta.

See also: aprire, apertura.