legami

Legami is an Italian noun meaning bonds or ties, and is the plural form of legame. It is used to denote connections between people, groups, objects, or ideas. Common contexts include legami familiari (family bonds), legami sociali (social ties), legami economici (economic links), and legami di parentela (kinship).

Etymology and usage: The term derives from legare “to bind,” which itself comes from Latin ligāre. The root appears in related Italian words and in other Romance languages. In Italian, legami can describe both tangible and abstract connections, from physical bindings to social or symbolic links.

In science: In chemistry, legami chimici are the bonds that hold atoms together, including covalent, ionic, and metallic bonds. Bond strength and length depend on the bond type and participating atoms; hydrogen bonds are weaker interactions that influence properties of water, proteins, and nucleic acids. In physics and materials science, the concept of bonding also underpins theories of material cohesion and structure.

Beyond science, legami is used in sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies to analyze networks of relationships and obligations within a community. The term also appears in law and economics to describe ties between institutions or countries, such as trade relationships, alliances, or strategic partnerships. In all contexts, legami convey the idea of interconnectedness that binds components into a coherent whole.