individuale

Individuale is an Italian adjective meaning related to an individual, personal, or singular. It describes something tied to a single person or thing, or to the quality of individuality. The form is the same for masculine and feminine singular (individuale); the plural form is individuali, used for both masculine and feminine groups. The corresponding noun for a person is l'individuo.

Origin and cognates: from Latin individuus “undivided,” through medieval Latin into Italian; cognate with English “individual” and other Romance languages’ equivalents. The term has historically been used in philosophy, law, and the social sciences to distinguish the single unit from the many.

Usage in language: In everyday Italian, individuale commonly occurs before or after the noun it modifies: esigenze individuali, vita individuale. It appears in legal and political contexts in phrases such as diritti individuali (individual rights) and responsabilità individuale (individual responsibility). In philosophical writing, it is contrasted with universality, as in discussions of the individual vs. the universal.

See also: individuo, individualismo, identità personale, diritti individuali, filosofia dell'individuazione.