addosso

Addosso is an Italian term that functions as an adverbial particle or postpositional preposition. In modern usage it expresses that something is in direct contact with a person or located on their body, or that something is in close proximity to someone. It is most common in everyday speech and informal writing.

In practice, addosso is often used with verbs related to wearing or possessing. For example, it can appear in constructions meaning “to have on” or “to wear,” as in I have a shirt addosso, or more naturally in Italian, Ho una maglietta addosso. It can also form questions such as Hai qualcosa addosso? (Do you have something on you?). Beyond bodily contact, addosso can convey immediacy or direct effect in certain contexts, for instance in phrases describing something pressing or coming up close to someone.

The term is generally considered part of standard Italian, though it is especially prevalent in colloquial speech and regional varieties. Etymologically, addosso blends a spatial sense with a figurative emphasis on being in contact or proximity, and its meanings can shift with context.

Usage notes:

- With clothing or items: Ho una giacca addosso. (I have a jacket on.)

- Inquiries about presence on the person: Hai qualcosa addosso?

- Expressing immediacy or confrontation can occur in casual speech, depending on the region and tone.

See also: Italian grammar, prepositional phrases, idioms and colloquial expressions in Italian.