ferito

Ferito is an Italian term that denotes a person who has suffered injuries or a wound, usually as a result of violence, an accident, or combat. It functions as an adjective (un uomo ferito, una donna ferita) and as a noun referring to the injured person (il ferito, i feriti). The feminine forms ferita (as an adjective) and la ferita (as the noun for a wound) are commonly used in everyday language.

Etymology and forms: Ferito comes from the verb ferire, meaning to wound or injure. The past participle ferito is used as an adjective to describe someone who has been wounded, with feminine form ferita. The related noun la ferita refers to the wound itself, while il ferito names the person who has been wounded. A related, less common noun is ferimento, which can denote the act or result of wounding in formal or legal contexts.

Usage and contexts: The term is widely used in medical, emergency, and legal contexts, as well as in journalism and reporting on violence or accidents. Examples include: “Il ferito è stato portato in ospedale” and “La ferita superficiale non richiede operazione.” In military language, “ferito di guerra” refers to a soldier who has been wounded. Synonyms or related terms include lesione (injury) and contusione (bruise), while ferimento can appear in formal documents.

See also: ferire, ferita, lesione, contusione, ferimento.