Incoraggiato

Incoraggiato is the past participle of the Italian verb incoraggiare, and also used as an adjective meaning “encouraged” or “emboldened.” When used as an adjective, it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: incoraggiato (masc. sing.), incoraggiata (fem. sing.), incoraggiati (masc. pl.), incoraggiate (fem. pl.). It can also appear in compound tenses with the auxiliary essere, in constructions that express a passive or experiential sense: sono stato incoraggiato, è stato incoraggiato, etc.

Etymology and meaning arise from the verb incoraggiare, formed from the prefix in- plus a root related to courage (coraggio). The sense developed to “to give courage,” “to embolden,” and, by extension, to describe a person who has received encouragement or motivation.

Usage and nuances: incoraggiato is commonly used to indicate that someone has been given encouragement by words, actions, or support. Examples include: La squadra è stata incoraggiata dai tifosi, Il ragazzo si è sentito incoraggiato dal discorso del maestro. As a verbal action, one can say: Hanno incoraggiato il ragazzo a provare di nuovo. The noun form incoraggiamento refers to the act or effect of encouraging, while incoraggiante or incoraggioso describe things that are encouraging or uplifting.

Related terms: incoraggiamento (noun), incoraggiante (adjective for “encouraging”), disincoraggiato (discouraged), and the broader family tied to encouraging and motivation.