proverbiali

Proverbiali is an Italian adjective meaning proverbial or relating to proverbs. It designates expressions, sayings, or attributes that are characteristic of proverbs or that have gained acceptance through common usage. The term derives from Latin proverbialis, from proverbium meaning “proverb, saying.”

Morphology and usage

In Italian, proverbiale is the singular form; proverbiali is the plural form and can modify masculine or feminine nouns (for example, espressioni proverbiali, detti proverbiali, frasi proverbiali). The adjective is commonly used in literary, linguistic, and folkloristic contexts to categorize or describe expressions that are widely recognized as conveying a traditional or well-known truth.

Functions and nuances

Proverbiali expressions are often concise, memorable, and culturally loaded. They may be used to illustrate a point, summarize a common experience, or convey moral or practical insight. In linguistic analysis, the term helps distinguish such fixed, proverb-based material from other types of idioms or original utterances.

Examples

Common proverbial expressions in Italian include "chi va piano va sano e va lontano" and "non è tutto oro quel che luccica." Phrases described as proverbiali are typically cited as evidence of shared cultural knowledge or as illustrations of conventional wisdom.

See also

proverbio; espressioni idiomatiche; detti popolari.