storto

Storto is an Italian adjective meaning bent, crooked, or not straight. It is used for physical objects with irregular geometry, such as una strada storta (a winding road) or un bastone storto (a bent stick), and it is also used figuratively to describe plans, behavior, or outcomes that do not go as expected or that are morally questionable, for example una decisione storta or un progetto andato storto.

Etymology and related forms: The term derives from Latin tortus or torquēre through Old Italian forms such as storte or storta, reflecting the sense of twisting or bending. It is part of a family of words connected to twisting and deviation, including storcere (to twist) and torto, a noun meaning wrong or injustice in older or broader Italian usage. The sense of deviation from straightness underpins many of its uses.

Morphology and usage: Storto is an adjective that agrees with gender and number: masculine singular storto, feminine singular storta; masculine plural storti, feminine plural storte. Common expressions include andare storto (to go wrong), prendere una piega storta (to take a bad turn), and qualcosa di storto (something crooked or faulty).

Other uses: Storto is also attested as a surname in Italian-speaking regions and among communities of Italian descent. As a surname, it does not imply a meaning different from the adjective but is carried as a family name.

See also: Related terms include torto (wrongness), storcere (to twist), and tortuoso (tortuous), which share the same root related to bending, twisting, or deviation.