Lieto

Lieto is an Italian adjective meaning "happy" or "cheerful." It derives from Latin laetus and entered Italian through medieval forms such as lieto. In modern Italian the adjective agrees with gender and number: lieto (masculine singular), lieta (feminine singular), lieti (masculine plural), liete (feminine plural). The word is used in phrases such as lieto fine (a happy ending), la lieta notizia (the good news), or un lieto evento (a glad event). Historically, lieto has appeared in literary and religious contexts to describe favorable circumstances, blessings, or well-being.

Lieto is also the name of a municipality in southwestern Finland. Located in the Varsinais-Suomi region near Turku, it belongs to the Turku sub-region and features coastal and rural areas. The toponym Lieto in Finland is a separate name that coincidentally shares the same spelling as the Italian adjective.

In addition to its lexical and geographic uses, Lieto occurs as a surname in Italian-speaking communities and among descendants abroad. The term may therefore appear in personal names and branding, and is sometimes encountered in Italian-language literature and media.