Novanta

Novanta is the Italian word for ninety. The term originates from the Latin novem decim (nine tens) and has been used in the Italian language since the Middle Ages. In modern standard Italian the adjective for the number ninety is normally “novanta”, but “noventa” is also common in many dialects, especially in southern regions. The form “novanta” is sometimes considered archaic in literary contexts but continues to appear in poetry, folklore, and certain colloquial expressions. For example, one might hear phrases such as “novanta e nove” to refer to eighty‑nine, or “fare novanta” meaning to do something close to completion.

In addition to its lexical use, novanta appears as a surname in Italy, with several individuals in public life bearing the name in fields ranging from sports to academia. The name is also used by small businesses and product lines, particularly in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, where it may evoke the idea of precision or the nineteenth decade of a model’s production. Occasionally the word is seen in place names, such as hamlets or localities whose names derive from historic counts of inhabitants or measurements.

Because of its multiple applications, novanta can refer both to a numeral, a family name, and to brand or geographic identifiers, all of which share a common linguistic heritage rooted in the Italian language.