alcolica

Alcolica is a term used mainly in Romance-language contexts to denote something related to alcohol, typically ethanol. It functions as a feminine adjective in languages such as Italian (alcolica), Spanish (alcohólica), and Portuguese (alcoólica), and it is used to describe beverages, substances, or conditions connected with alcohol. In English, the direct cognate is alcoholic, but translations or bilingual texts may render alcolica as such.

Etymology and usage conventions: The word derives from the general term alcohol, which in turn comes from the Arabic al-kuḥl, passed into European languages through medieval Latin. The suffix -ica forms adjectives and, in feminine form, yields alcolica. Because languages differ in spelling and accentuation, exact form and meaning can vary by country, but the core sense remains “related to alcohol.”

Contexts and examples: In culinary and labeling contexts, alcolica describes alcoholic beverages or ingredients, as in bevanda alcolica (an alcoholic drink) or soluzione alcolica (an alcohol solution). In medicine and public health, it appears in phrases such as intossicazione alcolica (acute alcohol intoxication) or dipendenza/alcolica (alcohol dependence). In chemistry and pharmacology, it can describe ethanol-containing preparations or solutions, for example, una soluzione alcolica di etanolo (an ethanol-alcohol solution).

See also: Alcohol, Ethanol, Alcoholic beverage, Alcoholism. Note that usage, spelling, and accents vary by language, so exact form may differ in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, or other Romance languages.