moderno

Moderno is a term used in several Romance languages, notably Spanish and Portuguese, to mean modern or contemporary. It derives from the Latin modernus and entered the Romance lexicon in late antiquity or the early medieval period. In general use, it functions as an adjective and, in some contexts, can also serve as a noun referring to modernity or modern attitudes.

In everyday language, moderno describes objects, ideas, or styles associated with the present or with recent times. It appears in common phrases such as diseño moderno (modern design) or moda moderna (modern fashion), and it can pair with other qualifiers to express emphasis, e.g., muy moderno or bastante moderno. The term is broad and contextual, rather than tied to a single historical movement.

In culture and the arts, moderno is often used to label broad modernist aesthetics rather than a specific movement. It can indicate a focus on current trends, innovation, or forward-looking forms. When capitalized or used as part of proper names, Moderno may reference publications, venues, brands, or other entities that adopt the word as a brand or identity.

Etymology and cognates: The word has parallel forms in related languages, such as italiano moderno and portugués moderno, all sharing the core sense of “belonging to the present or recent times.” Related terms include contemporáneo (Spanish) or contemporâneo (Portuguese), which emphasize the idea of the current era.

See also: contemporary, contemporáneo, modern.