povero

Povero is an Italian adjective meaning poor, destitute, or unfortunate. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: masculine singular povero, feminine singular povera, masculine plural poveri, and feminine plural povere. As a noun, il povero refers to a poor person, and i poveri to the poor as a group.

Etymology and cognates: Povero derives from Latin pauper, and is cognate with Romance-language words such as Spanish pobre and French pauvre. The term shares its root with the Italian noun povertà, which denotes poverty or poverty-related concepts.

Usage and nuance: In ordinary speech, povero describes economic deprivation, but it can also convey misfortune or pity beyond material lack. The phrase è povero di mezzi describes someone lacking resources. The word can appear in expressions such as povero me or poverino as affectionate or diminutive forms. As a noun, il povero can denote a person in poverty, sometimes carrying social or humanitarian connotations.

Cultural and linguistic notes: Povero is a common element in Italian literature and film to characterize characters or social realities. It appears in dialogues, titles, and descriptions to evoke hardship, social contrast, or moral sympathy. The term is also encountered as a surname in Italian-speaking regions.

See also: Povertà, the noun for poverty in Italian; related terms in other Romance languages; usage notes on adjectives of quality and social descriptors in Italian.