calcolare

Calcolare is an Italian verb meaning to calculate or to compute, especially by using numbers and logical steps. The word derives from Latin calculare, from calculus meaning a small pebble used in counting, and the modern sense retains the idea of numerical computation as well as estimation.

The verb is transitive and commonly used with direct objects, such as calcolare i costi, calcolare le probabilità, or calcolare il reddito. It covers mathematical calculation, budgeting, forecasting, and even figurative uses like calcolare le conseguenze or calcolare voci di bilancio. In everyday language, it often appears in contexts dealing with estimates or planning.

Conjugation and grammar: calcolare is a regular -are verb. In the present indicative, the forms are io calcolo, tu calcoli, lui/lei calcola, noi calcoliamo, voi calcolate, loro calcolano. The past participle is calcolato, and in compound tenses the auxiliary is avere (ho calcolato, avevo calcolato, ecc.). Other tenses follow standard -are verb patterns, such as calcolavo, calcolavi, calcolava in the imperfect and calcolerò, calcolerai in the future.

Related forms include the noun il calcolo (calculation), la calcolatrice (calculator), and l’aggettivo calcolabile (calculable). The verb calcolare is often paired with synonyms like stimare (to estimate) or computare, though the latter is less common in modern Italian and more technical in certain contexts.

See also: calcolo, calcolatrice, calcolo finanziario, matematica.