saperi

Saperi is the Italian plural of sapere, a noun and verb meaning to know. In contemporary Italian, saperi denotes knowledge, know-how, or competencies, with the plural form emphasizing that knowledge is diverse, contextual, and situated rather than a single, uniform entity. The term is widely used in educational, cultural, and sociological discourse to refer to different kinds or domains of knowledge.

Etymologically, sapere comes from Latin sapere “to taste, to know,” and saperi as a plural noun captures the idea of multiple knowledges or ways of knowing. In practice, saperi covers a range of meanings—from theoretical understanding to practical skill. It is common to distinguish among saperi such as saperi scientifici (scientific knowledge), saperi tecnologici (technological know-how), saperi tradizionali (traditional knowledge), saperi locali (local knowledges), and saperi artistici (artistic know-how).

In educational and cultural contexts, saperi are often discussed as components of the curriculum or as cultural capital. Phrases like integrare i saperi (integrate the knowledges) or i saperi di base (fundamental areas of knowledge) reflect an emphasis on connecting different domains rather than treating knowledge as a single, homogeneous body. The term also implicitly acknowledges that knowledge is distributed across communities and practices, including formal schooling, informal learning, and everyday life.

In English, saperi is typically translated as “areas of knowledge” or “know-how,” with the precise rendering depending on context. The concept highlights the plural and contextual nature of knowledge within Italian discourse.