ottici

Ottici is a word in Italian that can function as both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, ottico means “optical” or “pertaining to optics” and is used to describe light, vision, and imaging phenomena or devices. Common collocations include lenti ottiche (optical lenses), strumenti ottici (optical instruments), and vetro ottico (optical glass). The feminine singular form is ottica, and the feminine plural form is ottiche.

As a noun, ottico is the masculine singular for an optician, and its plural gli ottici refers to opticians, i.e., professionals who fit eyeglasses or work with vision correction. In everyday language, phrases such as andare dall’ottico (to go to the optician) are common.

Originating in Latin as opticus, from Greek optikos, the term entered Italian through medieval Latin. It is closely connected to the field of optics, which in Italian is ottica. The word appears across science, industry, and commerce, and forms the basis for many compounds describing devices or concepts involving light and imaging, such as componenti ottici (optical components) or strumenti ottici (optical instruments).