intimo

Intimo is a term that appears in several Romance languages and in fashion, with meanings linked to intimacy, privacy, and undergarments. It derives from the Latin intimus, meaning innermost or deepest.

In Italian, intimo is primarily an adjective meaning intimate or private, used to describe relations, spaces, or matters kept close. It can also refer to clothing worn next to the skin; the noun form l’intimo denotes underwear or intimate apparel, and the broader category is often described as biancheria intima (intimate garments).

In Spanish and Portuguese, the equivalent term íntimo (íntimo in Portuguese and with the acute accent in Spanish) carries similar senses of closeness and privacy. It is used to describe personal or private matters and relationships. In fashion and retail, íntimo or ropa íntima is commonly used to designate underwear or intimate wear, and many brands use Intimo or Íntimo as a product line name or category label.

Branding and usage vary by market, but intimo-related terms frequently appear in catalogs, marketing, and product descriptions to signal underwear, sleepwear, or other garments worn close to the body. The term is also encountered in cultural or literary contexts to denote private life or inner aspects of a person.

See also: lingerie, undergarments, intimate apparel, privacy.