conosciuti

Conosciuti is an Italian word that can function both as an adjective and as a noun. As an adjective, it is the masculine plural past participle of conoscere (conosciuto) and means “known” or “acquainted.” It is used to describe people or things that are known to someone, with the feminine plural form being conosciute. Examples include amici conosciuti (acquainted friends) and luoghi conosciuti (familiar places). As a noun, i conosciuti can refer to acquaintances—i.e., the people one knows—and may appear in phrases such as i conosciuti di questa città (the people known to this city), though in English this is often rendered as “the acquaintances.”

Etymology and usage: Conosciuti derives from the verb conoscere, whose meaning is to know or be familiar with someone or something. The term traces back to Latin cognoscere. In modern Italian, conosciuti commonly conveys a sense of familiarity or acknowledgment of specific individuals or places.

In culture and media: Conosciuti may appear as a title or in titles of Italian works, but there is no single canonical work universally associated with the word. When used as a title, its meaning depends on context and the content of the work, often signaling themes of recognition, social networks, or familiarity.

See also: Conoscenza, Conoscitore, Noti.