Spiriti

Spiriti is the Italian term for spirits, ghosts, or other non-physical essences, and it is the plural form of spirito. The word can refer to supernatural beings, such as ghosts of the deceased, or to more abstract animating forces attributed to living things or natural phenomena. In everyday use, spiriti often appears in folklore, literature, and media to denote non-corporeal entities or the presence of a life force.

Etymology and linguistic context

Spiriti derives from Latin spiritus, itself from the Greek pneuma, reflecting a long-standing cross-cultural concept of breath, wind, or life force as a defining characteristic of a spirit. In Italian, the singular Spirito Santo is used for the Holy Spirit, while the plural spiriti usually denotes multiple spirits and is not typically employed to refer to the Holy Spirit.

Usage in culture and religion

In folklore and popular culture, spiriti can describe a range of beings—from benevolent guardians of places to malevolent presences. The term also appears in philosophical or religious discussions about the nature of the soul, consciousness, or the immaterial aspects of objects and phenomena. In literary and cinematic contexts, spiriti may be depicted as characters with agency, memory, or influence on human affairs, reflecting broader themes of life, death, and continuity.

See also

Spirito Santo; spirits in folklore; soul in Italian philosophy.