adjetiu

Adjetiu is the term used in some Romance-language grammars to denote the word class that English calls adjectives. Adjectives describe properties, qualities, or characteristics of nouns and pronouns, such as color, size, shape, or origin. They function to modify or attribute features to a noun within a sentence.

Etymology and cross-language forms explain the term’s variation. The concept derives from Latin adjectivus, meaning “added” or “placed beside.” In modern Romance languages, related forms appear with slight spelling differences: Catalan adjectiu, Spanish adjetivo, French adjectif, Italian aggettivo, Portuguese adjetivo. Although the surface forms differ, the underlying function remains the same: labeling attributes of nouns.

Morphology and syntax commonly involve agreement and position. In many languages, adjectives agree with the noun in gender and number (for example, in Catalan, ella casa és verda/verd is green; masculine form versus feminine form changes). Adjectives may appear after the noun as a default (casa verda, “green house”) or before the noun in specific expressions or to convey emphasis or stylistic nuance. Degrees of comparison are typically expressed with periphrastic forms (more/less) or dedicated endings, as in “més gran” (bigger) or “el més gran” (the biggest) in Catalan.

Types of usage include attributive adjectives (directly describe the noun) and predicative adjectives (occur with a linking verb). Some adjectives have irregular forms or meanings that shift with position, while others remain invariant.

See also: Adjective, Grammar, Romance languages, Catalan language.