guasta

Guasta is the feminine form of the Italian adjective guasto, meaning damaged or faulty. It is used to describe feminine nouns, as in una ruota guasta or una lavatrice guasta. The corresponding masculine form guasto is used for masculine nouns, with plural forms guasti (masculine) and guaste (feminine) when describing plural items.

The noun guasto is also used to refer to a malfunction or fault in a system or device, such as c'è stato un guasto al motore or abbiamo avuto un guasto elettrico. In this sense, the word covers a wide range of failures, from mechanical breakdowns to electrical or software glitches. While guasto is common in both technical and everyday language, guasta tends to appear when the noun it describes is feminine.

Origin and usage notes: guasta derives from the verb guastare, which means to spoil or damage. In everyday Italian, guasto is more frequently used as the noun, while guasta serves as the feminine adjective form to modify feminine nouns. Proper usage depends on gender and number of the noun being described. Examples illustrate typical contexts, including vehicles, appliances, and infrastructure, where a fault or malfunction is reported or discussed.