Rafforzano

Rafforzano is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Italian verb rafforzare, meaning to strengthen, reinforce, or intensify. It is used with a plural subject to indicate that something is made stronger or more robust. The verb rafforzare is a regular -are verb, and its present indicative forms are: io rafforzo, tu rafforzi, lui rafforza, noi rafforziamo, voi rafforzate, loro rafforzano. The stem is rafforz-, and standard -are endings are applied: -o, -i, -a, -iamo, -ate, -ano. Therefore rafforzano corresponds to “they strengthen” (or “you all strengthen” when the subject is plural).

Etymology and usage context: rafforzare is built from the concept of strength, related to forza and forte, with the -zzare suffix common in Italian verb formation. The word is widely used in formal, academic, economic, political, and everyday contexts to describe actions that increase effectiveness, security, cohesion, or capacity. It can refer to tangible strengthening (e.g., infrastructures, defenses) or to more abstract improvements (e.g., partnerships, policies, institutions).

Examples: Le misure rafforzano la sicurezza. I partner rafforzano la cooperazione. Le relazioni tra le nazioni si rafforzano è una costruzione che utilizza la forma riflessiva rafforzarsi, non rafforzare, quando il soggetto agisce su se stesso.

See also: rafforzare, rafforzamento, rafforzato.