dannosa

Dannosa is the feminine singular form of the Italian adjective dannoso, meaning harmful or damaging. It describes things, substances, actions, or effects that cause harm, detriment, or adverse outcomes.

In usage, it can modify a noun: una sostanza dannosa; una conseguenza dannosa; una pratica dannosa. The feminine form also appears in phrases such as un'influenza dannosa or una malattia dannosa. It agrees with the noun in gender and number: dannoso (masc. sing), dannosa (fem. sing), dannosi (masc. plur), dannose (fem. plur).

Etymology and forms: dannosa derives from the root danne, linked to danno meaning damage, with the usual Italian suffix -oso to form an adjective. It ultimately traces back to Latin damnosus, related to damnum, the word for damage.

Usage and nuance: the term is common in formal and written Italian, including medical, environmental, legal, and journalistic contexts, to indicate harmful effects, substances, or policies. It is generally applied to non-personal subjects, whereas person-centered evaluations often use terms like pericoloso or dannoso in specific senses.

See also: dannoso, dannose, dannosi, and related expressions describing risk or harm in Italian.