nutrire

Nutrire is an Italian verb meaning to nourish, to feed, or to sustain life. Etymologically, it comes from Latin nutrire “to nourish,” from nutr- “nurse.” In contemporary Italian, nutrire is commonly used transitively: nutrire qualcuno (to feed someone), nutrire una pianta (to nourish a plant), or nutrire una speranza (to nourish a hope). The verb conjugates as nutro, nutri, nutre, nutriamo, nutrirete, nutrono.

In nutrition and medicine, nutrire also refers to providing substances necessary for health and growth, including both natural nourishment through food and, in clinical contexts, artificial nutrition (nutrizione artificiale, enterale or parenterale). The related noun nutrizione denotes the field or act of nutrition, while nutriente and alimento refer to a nutrient or a food item. The term is closely linked to alimentazione, which encompasses diet and overall nourishment.

Beyond technical usage, nutrire appears in everyday language with physical, emotional, and figurative senses. It can describe feeding or sustaining a person, a plant, or an idea, such as nutrire una relazione or nutrire l’immaginazione. In cultural contexts, the concept often extends to well-being, balance, and the capacity to support growth and resilience through proper nourishment.

See also: nutrizione, nutriente, alimento, alimentazione.