Nativi

Nativi is the plural form of nativo in Italian and is used as both a noun and an adjective. As a noun, nativi refers to people born in a particular place or to members of an indigenous or autochthonous population. As an adjective, it describes origin or belonging, as in popolazione nativa or cittadini nativi.

Etymology: The term derives from Latin nativus, from nasci “to be born.” In modern Italian it covers everyday demographic usage as well as more technical or anthropological contexts.

Usage and nuances: In contemporary discourse, expressions such as popolazioni autoctone or popoli indigeni are often preferred for indigenous groups, to avoid colonial connotations that the broader sense of native can carry. In demographic contexts, nativi can contrast with immigrati (immigrants) or cittadini non nativi, depending on the formulation.

Digital context: The phrase nativi digitali is widely used to describe people who grew up with digital technology. The word nativi alone does not automatically convey a digital meaning and typically requires a qualifier to indicate a digital context.

Surname: Nativi is also an Italian surname. As a family name it is not tied to the generic sense of native and may refer to individuals or lineages rather than a geographic origin.