invitato

In invitato is a term in Italian that functions as both a past participle and a noun. As the past participle of invitare, it means someone who has been invited. As a noun, l'invitato refers to a person who has received an invitation to an event, such as a party, wedding, or meeting. The word is commonly used in everyday speech and in event planning to designate participants who have been formally asked to attend.

Etymology and related forms: Invitato derives from the Latin invītatus, the past participle of invītāre, meaning to invite. Italian preserves this etymology in its current forms. The feminine singular is invitata, and the plural forms are invitati (masculine) and invitate (feminine). When used as an adjective, the word agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, for example, l'invitato (masc., singular) or l'invitata (fem., singular).

Usage notes: The phrase sono stato invitato/a means “I have been invited.” In passive or perfect constructions with essere, the participle agrees with the subject: “Gli invitati sono arrivati” (The invited guests have arrived). With avere, the participle does not change for gender: “Abbiamo invitato gli amici.” The term is more commonly used for real or formal invitations and is also found in contexts such as invitations to conferences or formal receptions, where precise acknowledgment of attendance is important.

See also: invitation, guest, RSVP.