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perenne

perennial

adjective peh-REN-neh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Conditions

Origin: From Latin perennis ('lasting through the year').

Also means

everlasting

Usage Note

Perenne is used both in botany — una pianta perenne ('a perennial plant', one that lives more than two years) — and figuratively to mean something that never ends or recurs perpetually: un problema perenne ('a perennial problem'). It is invariable for gender (same form for masculine and feminine); only the number changes: perenne / perenni. Do not confuse with eterno ('eternal'), which implies absolute timelessness.

Examples

"La neve perenne copre le cime più alte."

Natural Translation

Perennial snow covers the highest peaks.

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