comportamento
/kom.por.taˈmen.to/
The English word behaviour is translated into Italian as comportamento.
comportamento refers to the way that someone acts or conducts themselves, especially toward others. While comportamento is the standard term, you may also encounter atteggiamento, which primarily translates to attitude but is also used to refer to behavior.
What does it mean word for word?
The word comportamento is derived from the verb comportare, which means 'to carry/bear oneself' or 'to entail'.
Which one should you use?
Condotta can refer to behavior in a formal and structured context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of comportamento is comportamenti.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /kom.por.taˈmen.to/. It has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, describing someone's comportamento as 'pesante' (literally 'heavy') is a common way to say their behavior is annoying or overbearing.
- To describe 'bad behaviour' in a social sense, Italians might use the word maleducazione, which literally translates to a 'lack of education'.
- While comportamento describes how one acts, Italians often use fare le bizze to describe the specific 'behaviour' of a child throwing a tantrum.
Examples in context
- Sono stufo del suo comportamento.I am fed up with his behaviour.This sentence shows how to express being fed up with someone's comportamento.Tatoeba #946847 by Guybrush88, translation #785438 by hrin
- Non mi piace il tuo comportamento.I don't like your behaviour.This sentence shows how to express a dislike for someone's comportamento.Tatoeba #5901695 by Guybrush88, translation #9727318 by ariarin
- Il suo comportamento è molto volgare.Her behaviour is very vulgar.This sentence is useful for describing someone's comportamento as vulgar.Tatoeba #7804144 by Guybrush88, translation #7800738 by sharris123
- Il suo comportamento durante la riunione era impeccabile.His behavior during the meeting was impeccable.
- La sua condotta è stata esemplare durante il processo.His behavior was exemplary during the trial.
- Non mi piace il tuo modo di fare verso gli altri.I don't like your behavior towards others.
- Marco ha un atteggiamento molto positivo verso il lavoro.Marco has a very positive attitude towards work.
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are discussing a student at a party.
- MartinaHai visto il suo comportamento stasera?Did you see his behaviour tonight?
- MatteoSì, è stato davvero maleducato.Yes, he was really rude.
- MartinaIl suo comportamento mi ha offesa.His behaviour offended me.
- MatteoHai ragione, Martina, non è stato gentile.You're right, Martina, he wasn't kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry comportamento, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
