senno

Senno is an Italian noun meaning prudent judgment, discernment, or good sense. It denotes the capacity to evaluate situations and act with moderation. In modern Italian, senno is most often encountered in established phrases rather than as a stand-alone everyday term. Typical expressions include buon senno (good sense) and avere senno (to have sense). The idiom senno del poi, meaning hindsight or the wisdom of looking back at past events, is widely used in both speech and writing.

Senno can refer to practical judgment in personal or professional decisions and is closely associated with prudenza (prudence) and buon senso (common sense). In literary and moral contexts, senno is used to contrast cautious, deliberate action with reckless or impulsive behavior. The concept has historical weight in Italian moral philosophy and proverb literature, where prudent discernment is valued.

Etymology is linked to an older Italian form related to senso (sense), reflecting the idea of a refined or tempered judgment rather than raw intelligence. In contemporary usage, senno remains somewhat formal or literary, and more common synonyms are buonsenso or prudenza.

See also: Buon senso, Prudenza, Saggezza.