persóna

Persóna is a noun used in several European languages to denote a person or a character. The term derives from the Latin persona, meaning mask or role, and has entered various languages with slightly different spellings and usages. In Icelandic, for example, persóna is commonly used to refer to a public image or a social role, while in other languages the more general form persona is used for both person and character.

In psychology, the persona is a concept introduced by Carl Jung describing the social face an individual presents to the world—a compromise between inner self and social expectations. It functions as a protective or adaptive mask that helps navigate social life, but overidentification with the persona can obscure the true self.

In literature, film and theatre, persóna or persona is used to denote a character or the imagined voice through whom the narrative is told; a fictional persona may be distinct from the author's own perspective.

In contemporary discourse, the term often refers to a public persona: the image a public figure projects in media and communications, which may differ from private beliefs or behavior. The distinction between persona and personality is subtle: a persona is a deliberate presentation or role, while personality encompasses the broader, enduring traits of a person.

See also: persona, mask, identity, character.