probabile

Probabile is an Italian adjective meaning likely or probable. It is used to express that something has a high likelihood of occurring or being true, rather than being certain. For example, una notizia probabile (a probable news item) or un esito probabile (a probable outcome). When introducing a clause that states what is likely, Italian often uses è probabile che with the verb in the subjunctive: È probabile che arrivi domani (It is likely that he will arrive tomorrow).

Etymology and cognates: probabile derives from Latin probabilis, from probare to test or prove. The form is used in many Romance languages with similar meanings, such as probable in Spanish and French, and plausibile or verosimile in various contexts.

Grammar and usage notes: Probabile agrees with the gender and number of the noun it modifies. Forms include: un fatto probabile, una notizia probabile, i fatti probabili, le notizie probabili. The related noun is probabilità, meaning probability, often used in statistics and everyday language to discuss likelihoods. The adverb form is probabilmente, meaning probably or presumably, as in Probabilmente pioverà (It will probably rain).

Synonyms and contrasts: Common synonyms include plausibile and verosimile, which emphasize believability or plausibility rather than mere likelihood. Antonyms include improbabile and inverosimile, indicating low or negligible probability.

Overview: Probabile functions as the primary everyday term for likelihood in Italian, used across conversation, journalism, and academic writing to characterize events, outcomes, or claims as likely rather than certain.