desiderio

Desiderio is an Italian noun meaning desire, longing, wish, or craving. The word derives from Latin desiderium, from desiderare, meaning to desire. In Italian, desiderio describes a strong feeling of wanting something, from everyday wishes to profound longings, and it can appear in religious, philosophical, and literary contexts to express yearning or spiritual appetite. It is used in phrases such as "desiderio di pace" (desire for peace) or "un desiderio ardente" (an ardent longing). Related forms include desiderare (to desire) and desideroso (desirous).

Desiderio is also a masculine given name in Italy. It reflects a tradition of naming children after virtues or aspirational concepts. The most well-known bearer is Desiderio da Settignano (c. 1423–1464), also called Desiderio diSettignano, an Italian Renaissance sculptor associated with the school of Donatello. In broader literary and historical usage, the name appears in art and records as a personal identifier.

In modern usage, desiderio remains current in Italian vocabulary and can appear in poetry, music lyrics, and narrative prose where longing or aspiration is a thematic element. The term is cognate with desiderium in Latin and with related Romance-language terms that express similar notions of longing.