fundamentali

Fundamentali is the Italian plural form of the adjective fondamentale, meaning essential, basic, or core. It is used to describe elements, concepts, or requirements that form the basis of a system, theory, or activity. In the plural, fundamentali applies to both masculine and feminine nouns (the singular form is fondamentale).

Etymology and sense: The word derives from Latin fundamentum, meaning foundation or base, and shares cognates with words such as foundation in English. In Italian, fondamental is used to indicate something that is indispensable or forms a base, while fundamentali points to multiple such elements.

Usage: Fundamentali appears across disciplines and contexts. Common collocations include principi fondamentali (fundamental principles), elementi fondamentali (essential elements), concetti fondamentali (core concepts), and competenze fondamentali (core skills). The term often appears in academic writing, technical documentation, policy discussions, and education to emphasize essential aspects that should be understood or addressed.

Notes: While fundamentali functions as an adjective in most phrases, it can also appear in more general references to “the fundamentals” in a broad sense, though in Italian this is more typically expressed with fondamenti or principi fondamentali. The word is closely related to synonyms such as essenziali and basilari, and it contrasts with terms describing nonessential or ancillary elements.

See also: fondamentale, fondamento, fondamenti, essenziale, basilare.