attuale

Attuale is an Italian adjective meaning present, current, or existing at the moment considered. It is used to describe things that belong to the present time or that are in effect now, such as a current situation, a current year, or an active version of something. For example, la situazione attuale (the present situation), l’anno attuale (the current year), or il governo attuale (the current government). The term can also indicate contemporaneity rather than mere proximity in time.

Etymology and related forms: Attuale derives from Latin actualis, related to actus meaning “done” or “performed.” In Italian it evolved to denote what pertains to the present time or reality. Related words include attualità (the present day or current events), attualizzare (to update or to render current), and attualizzazione (the process of becoming current). The adverbial form is attualmente, meaning “currently” or “at present.”

Usage notes: Attuale is preferred when the emphasis is on contemporaneity or the state of being current. It contrasts with tempo futuro (future) and passato (past), and with presente, which can be used more generally to denote the present tense or the immediate moment. In many contexts, especially in formal or written Italian, attuale and presente can be interchangeable, but attuale often conveys a sense of status as of now rather than a generic present moment.

In common discourse, attuale appears in journalism, politics, business, and everyday language to specify the time-sensitive nature of a condition, policy, or entity, such as una versione attuale (an up-to-date version) or le condizioni attuali della crisi (the current conditions of the crisis).