minimo

/ˈmi.ni.mo/adjective / noun · masculineA2 / B2

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Meaning · adjective

minimum, minimal

Oggi la temperatura minima è di cinque gradi.
Today the minimum temperature is five degrees.

Puoi abbassare il volume al minimo?
Can you turn the volume down to the minimum?

Con il minimo sforzo, hai finito tutto.
With the least effort, you finished everything.

Word forms (4)

Minimo is the superlative of piccolo: use it for the smallest size or amount, not as a general intensifier like very small.
It agrees in gender and number: minimo, minima, minimi, minime.
Common in fixed expressions like al minimo and minimo indispensabile; these often sound more natural than a literal small/smallest translation.

minimum, the least

Il minimo per entrare è diciotto anni.
The minimum to enter is eighteen years old.

Hai studiato il minimo per questo test?
Did you study the minimum for this test?

Al semaforo, il motore resta al minimo.
At the traffic light, the engine stays at idle.

Word forms (2)

Word	Word forms
minimo	masculine · singular
minimi	masculine · plural

Use il minimo for the noun; minimo alone often appears after nouns: salario minimo, età minima.
For comparisons, prefer almeno for 'at least'; minimo is not a general substitute.
As an engine term, essere al minimo means 'to be idling'; common in mechanical or driving contexts.