appartiene

Appartiene is an Italian verb meaning "to belong to" or "to be part of." It is a regular -ere verb that conjugates as follows: io appartengo, tu appartieni, lui/lei appartiene, noi apparteniamo, voi appartenete, loro appartengono. The verb is used to express ownership, membership, or association with a group, organization, or category.

The word derives from the Latin "appartinet," which carries the same fundamental meaning. In Italian, appartiene serves as both a transitive and intransitive verb depending on context. When used transitively, it typically requires the preposition "a" before the object, as in "questo libro appartiene a Maria" (this book belongs to Maria).

Common usage includes expressing national identity ("Io appartengo all'Italia" - I belong to Italy), organizational membership ("Lui appartiene al sindacato" - He belongs to the union), or categorical classification ("Questa specie appartiene alla famiglia dei felini" - This species belongs to the feline family). The verb also appears in idiomatic expressions and philosophical contexts regarding belonging and identity.

In grammatical terms, appartiene functions as the third person singular present indicative form. Its reflexive counterpart "appartenersi" exists but is less commonly used. The verb pairs naturally with pronouns and possessive adjectives to clarify relationships of belonging.

Regional variations in usage are minimal across Italian dialects, though some areas may prefer alternative constructions. The verb appears frequently in legal, academic, and literary contexts where precise expression of ownership or membership relationships is required. Modern usage has expanded to include digital contexts, such as belonging to online communities or social media groups.