Dritto

Dritto is an Italian word with several related meanings and uses. As an adjective, dritto means straight or direct, contrasted with curved or twisted. It can describe physical objects (una linea dritta, una strada dritta), directions (vai dritto), or posture (stare dritto, standing upright). The feminine form is dritta, and the plural forms are dritti (masculine) and dritte (feminine).

In everyday language, dritto is also used in phrases that emphasize directness or immediacy, such as dritto al punto (straight to the point) or andare dritto (to go straight ahead). The word is common in non-technical speech and tends to be more flexible than the more formal rettilineo or retto in technical contexts.

As a noun, il dritto can refer to a straight line or the idea of directness. A related noun, dritta (feminine), appears in phrases like dare una dritta (to give a tip or hint) and prendere una dritta (to take a tip or lead).

Etymology and related terms: dritto derives from Latin directus, through the evolution of Old Italian. It is related to the adjective rett‑ in rettilineo or retto, but dritto has become the everyday term for straightness and directness in many contexts.

Usage notes: In a geometric or mathematical setting, the more technical terms rettilineo or retta are common, whereas dritto remains prevalent in casual speech. The word also appears in various idioms and everyday expressions, illustrating its broad sense of directness, uprightness, and straightness.