adatto

Adatto is an Italian adjective meaning suitable or fitting for a particular purpose or person. It describes something that meets the requirements of a situation, such as clothing, equipment, plans, or a person’s abilities. Examples include: "Questo vestito è adatto per una cerimonia formale" and "Questo strumento è adatto al lavoro."

Inflection and usage: Adatto agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: adatto (masculine singular), adatta (feminine singular), adatti (masculine plural), adatte (feminine plural). It is commonly followed by prepositions to specify the context of suitability, for example "adatto a una situazione" or "adatto per l’uso domestico." Common synonyms include idoneo, appropriato, opportuno, and adeguato; a common antonym is inadatto.

Etymology and related forms: The word is generally traced to Latin aptus meaning "fit, suitable," with transformation through the Romance language evolution into Italian. Adatto is used as an independent adjective, while related verbs such as adattare mean "to adapt" and provide linguistic connections to the concept of suitability. Related Italian terms that express nuance include adeguato (more formal or technical) and idoneo.

Translations and cross-language notes: In English, adatto translates as "suitable" or "fit." In Spanish, the equivalent is apto; in French, apte (as in "apte à"). In German, geeignet conveys a similar sense. While closely related to the verb adattare, adatto should not be confused with forms of adaptation or adoption in other contexts.