imediato

Imediato is an adjective used in Portuguese and Italian to describe something that happens or is done without delay, or that is very close in time or sequence. It denotes immediacy and can modify nouns to indicate urgency or directness. In both languages, the term also forms the basis for an adverb, immediatamente, meaning immediately.

Etymology and linguistic context

The term derives from Latin immediatus and entered the Romance languages through historical development in Italian and Portuguese. As a common descriptor of time and sequence, imediato appears in everyday language as well as in formal or technical contexts, where timeliness or directness is emphasized.

Usage and examples

In Portuguese, imediato is used in phrases such as uma resposta imediata or ação imediata, indicating promptness or lack of delay. The adverbial form, imediatamente, means “immediately.” In Italian, immediato is found in expressions like intervallo immediato or azione immediata, with the adverb immediately form being immediatamente.

Nuance and related terms

Imediato generally implies both temporal proximity and a direct connection or lack of intermediate steps. It can convey urgency, spontaneity, or necessity in actions and decisions. Related terms in Portuguese include imediato as well as aumentos como “imediatismo” for a broader emphasis on immediacy; in Italian, related terms include immediato and immediatamente, with subtle distinctions from synonyms such as istantaneo (instantaneous) or diretto (direct).

See also

Immediate, immediato in Romance languages, immediatamente in Italian and Portuguese.