sincero
/sinˈt͡ʃɛ.ro/
The English word 'candid' is translated into Italian as sincero.
sincero is used to describe someone or something that is straightforward, open and sincere. While it can mean 'sincere' in a general sense, it is the most natural equivalent for 'candid' when describing a person's opinion or feedback.
Meaning: straightforward, open and sincere (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective sincero changes its ending to agree with the gender and number of the noun it describes: use sincera for feminine singular nouns, sinceri for masculine plural nouns and sincere for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /sinˈtʃɛ.ro/.
When do people say it?
To express the idea of being candid colloquially, Italians use the idiom Senza peli sulla lingua, which literally means 'without hairs on the tongue' and describes someone who speaks without filters. In informal situations, you might also hear the expression Dire le cose come stanno, meaning 'to say things as they are'.
Did you know?
- While sincero is common, Italians may use the word schietto to describe a type of candidness that is blunt, direct and almost devoid of diplomacy.
- In Italian, describing someone as troppo sincero can be a polite way of suggesting they are tactless or rude rather than merely candid.
- In Italy, being sincero is often linked to the idea of 'purity' rather than just 'truthfulness', reflecting its ancient roots in describing unadulterated substances.
Examples in context
- Vorresti un mio commento sincero?Would you like my candid feedback?This sentence shows how to use sincero when asking if someone wants candid feedback.Tatoeba #13047344 by Nuel, translation #13047343 by Nuel
- Sono onesto quando dico che…I am candid when I say that…
- Parlo direttamenteI speak candidly
- Lui parla sempre senza peli sulla linguaHe always speaks candidly
- Mi piace dire le cose come stannoI like to be candid
- Penso che sia importante essere franco quando si tratta di problemi familiari.I think it's important to be candid when it comes to family issues.
- Mi piace dire le cose come stanno, anche se a volte può risultare scomodo.I like to say things as they are, even if it can be uncomfortable at times.
- È stato molto sincero con me.He was very sincere with me.
- Grazie per il tuo parere sincero.Thank you for your sincere opinion.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are discussing a mutual friend's behavior.
- LorenzoCredi che Paolo sia sincero?Do you think Paolo is sincere?
- MartinaSì, è sempre stato un ragazzo sincero.Yes, he has always been a sincere guy.
- LorenzoAllora mi fiderò di lui.Then I will trust him.
- MartinaMerita la tua fiducia, Lorenzo.He deserves your trust, Lorenzo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry sincero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
