Spiegazione

Spiegazione is the Italian noun for the act of making something understandable or the explanation that results from that process. It covers a broad range of uses, from informal clarifications to formal expositions, and appears in education, media, science, law, and everyday conversation. A spiegazione can be concise or detailed, and is often introduced by verbs such as dare una spiegazione, offrire una spiegazione, or fornire una spiegazione.

The term derives from the verb spiegare, itself from Latin explicare, from ex- “out” or “forth” plus plicare “to fold” — literally to unfold something that was folded. The noun form -zione indicates a process or result.

In education, a spiegazione clarifies a concept, procedure, or problem. In scientific writing, it denotes a causal or functional account that increases understanding of a phenomenon. In law or journalism, it can refer to a formal clarification of rules or events. The phrase spiegazione dettagliata emphasizes thoroughness, while spiegazione sintetica signals brevity.

Spiegazione is often contrasted with esposizione (presentation of information) and chiarimento (clarification to resolve a misunderstanding). In discourse analysis, the quality of a spiegazione may depend on coherence, evidence, and audience adaptation. The word is common in Italian dictionaries and everyday usage, reflecting its central role in conveying understanding across contexts.