intestati

Intestati is an Italian adjective with two principal meanings. In everyday language, it describes a person who is stubborn or obstinate, resistant to changing their mind. This sense is fairly common but often considered less formal than synonyms such as testardo or ostinato, and usage can vary by region.

In bureaucratic and legal language, intestato refers to something that is titled or registered in the name of someone. For example, a bank account or a contract can be described as “intestato al signor Rossi,” meaning it is in Rossi’s name. In this sense, the word denotes ownership or designation on official documents or records rather than personal character.

Grammar and forms: intestato is the masculine singular form; feminine singular is intestata, masculine plural is intestati, and feminine plural is intestate. The masculine plural intestati is commonly used when referring to multiple items or accounts that are all in a given name, e.g., “conti intestati a diverse aziende.”

Usage notes: the figurative sense of “intestato” as stubborn is more colloquial and may feel dated in formal writing; the administrative sense is the standard in legal or financial contexts. When describing a person’s character, prefer terms like testardo or ostinato if aiming for a neutral tone.

See also: intestazione, intestare, testament, ostinazione.