neapolitánus

Neapolitanus, in its Latin form neapolitanus, is an adjective meaning “of Naples” or “Neapolitan.” It is used in scientific nomenclature to signal an association with the city of Naples, Italy. The term derives from Neapolis, the ancient Greek name for Naples (modern Napoli).

In Latin, the adjective has three agreeing forms: neapolitanus (masculine), neapolitana (feminine), and neapolitanum (neuter). When used in binomial nomenclature, the form must agree with the gender of the genus name, so the epithet appears as neapolitanus, neapolitana, or neapolitanum depending on the noun it modifies.

Taxonomic usage commonly appears as a specific epithet within biological names across plants and animals, indicating that the species was described from Naples or is otherwise linked to the city. The Latin epithet functions within the rules of botanical and zoological nomenclature, alongside many other geographic epithets.

In contemporary English, the related demonym is Neapolitan, used for people, culture, and language associated with Naples. The Latin neapolitanus form remains mainly of interest in scholarly, historical, or formal naming contexts, serving as a marker of geographic origin within scientific names rather than common language.

See also: Naples, Neapolis, Neapolitan language, binomial nomenclature, Latin grammar.