capitolo

Capitolo is a masculine Italian noun that denotes a division of a book, document, or speech. It corresponds to the English “chapter” and is used for a major section within a longer work. A capitolo typically has a title and is numbered, often as Capitolo I, Capitolo II, and may be followed by subchapters or sections. In fiction and non-fiction alike, chapters help organize content, advance the narrative, or structure an argument.

Etymology and form: Capitolo derives from the Latin capitulum, a diminutive of caput meaning “head.” The sense evolved from a small heading or heading-like unit to a full division of a text. The word is masculine in Italian, with the plural capitoli.

Usage: In literary works, capitoli guide readers through the story or exposition, sometimes varying in length and focus. In academic writing, chapters organize material by topic, method, or stage of the argument. In legal or formal documents, capitoli can structure statutes or codes, with articles and paragraphs serving as finer subdivisions. The term is also used metaphorically, as in “un nuovo capitolo della vita,” to signal a new phase or era.

See also: Chapter, Section, Prologue, Epilogue. The term capitolo is widely used across registers from scholarly to popular writing, and it remains a common organizational tool in Italian texts.