torto

Torto is a term used in Italian with several related senses. As a noun, torto means a wrong or injustice. It is used in expressions such as avere torto ("to be wrong") and prendere torto ("to take offense" or "to feel wronged"). In everyday speech, it can refer to a mistaken belief or improper action, though the most common sense concerns being mistaken or in the wrong.

The word derives from Latin tortus, meaning twisted or bent, and entered Italian with the broad semantic field of wrongdoing or error. In modern usage, torto is typically paired with prepositions to convey fault or injustice, as in “hai torto” (you are wrong) or “subire un torto” (to suffer a wrong).

Torto should not be confused with torta, the word for cake in Italian; they are distinct in meaning and pronunciation. The similarity in form can lead to occasional confusion for learners of the language.

Beyond its ordinary linguistic sense, torto also appears as a surname in Italian-speaking communities and may occur in certain place names or in compound forms within Italian toponyms. It is not common as a standalone given name in contemporary usage.

In English-language contexts, torto is typically encountered only when discussing Italian language or in connection with proper names. A related term in English law, tort, denotes a civil wrong, but it is etymologically separate and used in a different legal and linguistic domain.