literário

Literário is an adjective in Portuguese that denotes relation to literature. It is used to describe works, genres, institutions, or activities associated with the literary arts, including fiction, poetry, criticism, and theory. Common formations include obra literária (literary work), crítica literária (literary criticism), história literária (literary history), and estilo literário (literary style). The feminine form is literária, and the plural forms are literários (masc.) and literárias (fem.). When capitalized, the term can function as a proper noun in titles or brand names.

Etymology: The word derives from "literatura," itself from Latin litteratura, stemming from littera meaning "letter." The sense evolved from "of letters" to "of literature" and is cognate with related terms in other Romance languages.

Usage notes: In academic and cultural discourse, literário serves as a broad modifier for anything related to literary creation, study, or criticism. It is commonly contrasted with non-literary domains by using terms such as literário versus científico or técnico. The adjective can appear before or after the noun, depending on emphasis and conventional usage (for example, estilo literário or literatura literária).

See also: Literatura; Crítica literária; Teoria literária; Literatura brasileira.