peccati

Peccati is the Italian word for sins. It is the plural form of peccato, meaning a fault or offense, and in religious and moral contexts it refers to acts considered violations of divine or moral law. Common expressions include peccati capitali (the seven deadly sins), peccati veniali (venial sins), and peccati mortali (mortal sins).

In Latin, peccatum is the neuter noun for "sin." The form peccati is usually the genitive singular of peccatum, and appears in various phrases and textual contexts describing wrongdoing. The related verb peccare means to sin, and it has related forms such as peccavi and peccatum in classical usage. The Latin term has influenced many Romance languages, including Italian, where the noun retains the core meaning.

Etymologically, the Italian term derives from the Latin peccatum and the verb peccare, which together encode the concept of error or fault before divine or moral standards. In Italian literature, theology, and philosophy, peccati is used to discuss guilt, moral responsibility, and the possibility of repentance or redemption. In Catholic discourse, distinctions are sometimes made between peccati veniali and peccati mortali, reflecting gradations of seriousness in wrongdoing.

Peccati also appears in translations and scholarship dealing with ancient or medieval texts, where it is used to render Latin discussions of sin into Italian. The word remains a standard lexical item in moral theology, philosophy, and religious literature as a term for wrongdoing and ethical fault.

See also: sins in Catholic doctrine, seven deadly sins, sin and redemption, Latin language.