Meaning
obligation, duty
- condition
In a sentence
Non è un obbligo, ma ti aiuta molto.
It’s not an obligation, but it helps you a lot.
Hai l'obbligo di avvisarmi prima di uscire?
Do you have the obligation to let me know before going out?
Indossare il casco in moto è un obbligo di legge.
Wearing a helmet on a motorcycle is a legal requirement.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| obbligo | masculine · singular |
| obblighi | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use obbligo for legal, moral, or formal duties; dovere is broader and often means a personal task or what one must do.
- Common pattern: avere l'obbligo di + infinitive. Also essere obbligato a is common, but that uses the adjective, not the noun.
- In legal or bureaucratic contexts, obbligo sounds more formal than impegno or necessità.