opportuno

Opportuno is a Romance-language adjective used in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese to describe something that is timely, appropriate, or advantageous. In English, the close cognate is opportune, though opportuno itself is not common in English.

Etymology and cognates: The term derives from Latin opportunus, meaning fitting or favorable. Through the evolution of the Romance languages, opportunus developed into forms such as opportuno in Italian and oportuno/oportuno in Spanish and Portuguese, preserving the core sense of suitability and favorable timing.

Usage: In Italian, opportuno describes timely or advantageous conditions and can modify a plan or action to indicate that the moment is right: È un momento opportuno per agire. In Spanish and Portuguese, cognate forms such as momento oportuno/oportuno carry a similar sense of timeliness or suitability: Fue un momento oportuno para actuar. The word’s use is typically neutral, suitable for everyday speech and formal writing alike.

Related forms: The noun forms include opportunismo in Italian and oportu nismo in Spanish and Portuguese, referring to opportunism. The related adjective opportunista/oportunista exists in these languages as well. The English equivalent is opportunism, and the root also yields the adjective opportunista in some contexts in romance languages.