Assimilati

Assimilati is the plural form of the Italian adjective assimilato, meaning "made similar" or "absorbed" and also used as a noun to denote people or groups who have assimilated into a larger culture or system. The base verb is assimilare, with the past participle assimilato.

In ordinary use, assimilati describes individuals or groups that have adopted the language, customs, or institutions of a different community, often with the implication of reduced distinctiveness. It can apply to cultural, social, or institutional assimilation, and is used in contexts ranging from education and immigration to cultural integration.

In historical contexts, particularly in Italy, the term has appeared in discussions of assimilation policies within the Italian state or empire. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, discussions about integrating non-native communities or colonial subjects occasionally used "assimilati" to designate those who had embraced Italian language and customs and were, at least nominally, integrated into the national community. The term can carry a loaded or normative tone depending on use and period.

In linguistics, assimilation is the process by which a sound becomes more like a neighboring sound; "assimilati" can be used in describing sounds that have undergone assimilation, though more precise technical terms are typically employed.

The word remains part of Italian vocabulary as both adjective and noun, with meanings tied to integration, adaptation, and the dynamics of cultural or linguistic contact.