abbondante

Abbonda te is an Italian adjective meaning abundant or plentiful. It describes a quantity or extent larger than usual and conveys surplus or sufficiency. It agrees with the noun it modifies: un pasto abbondante (a plentiful meal), una pioggia abbondante (heavy rain); i pasti abbondanti, le piogge abbondanti. It can also be used predicatively: La scorta è abbondante (The supply is abundant).

Etymology and form: Abbondante derives from Latin abundans, abundantis, the present participle of abundare “to abound,” rooted in the Latin adjective abundus. The Italian form keeps the -ante ending; in the plural it becomes abbondanti for both genders (e.g., pasti abbondanti, piogge abbondanti). The basic feminine and masculine singular are identical in form.

Usage and nuance: Abbondante is commonly employed to describe positive abundance in food, resources, rainfall, or results. It emphasizes quantity rather than quality and is typically favorable. It is not usually used to describe scarcity or insufficiency, where terms like scarso or insufficiente would be more appropriate.

Related forms: The noun corresponding to the concept is abbondanza (“abundance”). The adverbial form is abbondantemente, used to say “abundantly.” Synonyms in context can include copioso, generoso, and ricco, though each carries subtle shades of meaning.

See also: abbondanza, abbondantemente.