comprensivo

Comprensivo is an adjective used in several Romance languages, notably Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, with gendered forms such as comprensivo/comprensiva in masculine and feminine, and correspondingly compreensivo/compreensiva in Portuguese. The term derives from Latin comprehensivus, from comprehendere “to seize, to include.” The core sense is related to grasping or including what is indicated by the noun it modifies.

In Spanish, comprensivo primarily describes a person who is empathetic and understanding, as in una persona comprensiva. It can also appear in contexts that imply something broad or all-encompassing, but for such meanings speakers often use verbs or adjectives like amplio, integral, or abarcador. For insurance or service plans, common phrasing tends to favor coberturas amplias or seguro a todo riesgo rather than the bare adjective.

In Italian, comprensivo likewise covers two main senses: a person who is understanding and tolerant, and a description of something broad or complete, such as a comprehensive plan or insurance policy (piano comprensivo). In Portuguese, compreensivo (masculine) or compreensiva (feminine) can mean understanding or, in specific contexts, comprehensive, as in seguro com cobertura compreensiva or plano de cobertura compreensiva.

Related nouns include comprensión in Spanish and compreensão in Portuguese, both denoting the concept of understanding. Overall, comprensivo is a versatile term whose primary nuance is the capacity to grasp or include, with contextual variations toward personal traits or breadth of scope.