osservati

Osservati is an Italian term meaning “the observed” or “those who are observed.” It derives from osservare (to observe) and osservazione (observation), with osservato as the masculine past participle. The plural form osservati is used for masculine subjects; feminine equivalents include osservate, and the forms adapt to the noun they modify or replace.

As a participial adjective, osservati agrees with its noun, for example: i soggetti osservati (the subjects observed). In some contexts osservati can function as a noun phrase, referring to the observed individuals or objects, e.g., gli osservati, meaning “the observed ones” or “the subjects under observation.”

Usage and contexts: The term is common in scientific, medical, and research contexts to denote individuals or items that are being monitored or studied. In legal, journalistic, or administrative language, it can appear in phrases such as osservati speciali to indicate people under heightened surveillance or scrutiny. Beyond technical registers, osservati may appear in everyday speech to describe things that have been examined or evaluated.

Etymology and related terms: Osservati shares its root with osservare (to observe) and osservazione (observation). Related words include osservatore (observer) and osservata (feminine past participle or feminine noun form), as well as the broader semantic field of observation and monitoring.

See also: osservare; osservazione; osservatore; osservata.