sperato

Sperato is the past participle of the Italian verb sperare, meaning to hope. It is used to form compound tenses with the auxiliary avere, as in ho sperato di arrivare in tempo. In addition to its verbal use, sperato can function as an adjective describing a noun and agreeing in gender and number (for example, un esito sperato, una risposta sperata, i risultati sperati, le risposte sperate).

As an adjective, sperato conveys a sense of desired or hoped-for outcome rather than a guaranteed result. It often appears in contexts where an outcome was wished for or anticipated, but not certain. In contrast, più neutral terms such as atteso or previsto emphasize expectation or forecast rather than personal hope.

Etymology and form: sperato derives from the Latin speratus, through the Italian verb sperare. The form agrees with the noun it modifies: masculine singular is sperato, feminine singular sperata, masculine plural sperati, feminine plural sperate.

Usage notes: Sperato is common in everyday Italian, journalism, and literature where a speaker or writer wants to mark an outcome as something hoped for. It is not used as a standalone noun. Its meaning is closely tied to the speaker’s attitude toward a future result, which can introduce a slight subjective or emotional nuance.

See also: speranza, sperare.