obbliga

Obbliga is the third-person singular present indicative form of the Italian verb obbligare, meaning to oblige or compel someone to do something. It is commonly used in legal, administrative, and everyday contexts to indicate that a person or entity imposes a requirement on another.

Etymology and meaning: The verb obbligare derives from Latin obligāre, formed from ob- (toward or against) and ligāre (to bind). Over time it developed the figurative sense of binding someone to a duty or action, as in enforcing rules or contracts.

Usage and grammar: Obbliga governs a direct object that represents the person or entity being obliged, and is typically followed by an infinitive clause introduced by a or a dependent noun phrase. Examples: Il contratto obbliga le parti a rispettare le clausole. La legge obbliga i cittadini a pagare le tasse. In nuanced contexts, obbligare sits alongside synonyms like costringere or imporre, but it often carries a more formal or procedural tone, especially in legal or administrative language.

Conjugation and related forms: Obbligare is a regular -are verb; present tense forms include io obbligo, tu obblighi, lui/lei obbliga, noi obblighiamo, voi obbligate, loro obbligano. The related noun is obbligo (obligation); the related adjective is obbligatorio (mandatory). The verb can appear in compound tenses with avere as the auxiliary.

See also: obbligo, obbligazione, obbligatorio.