lealtà
/le.alˈta/feminine
The English word loyalty is translated into Italian as lealtà.
lealtà refers to faithfulness or devotion to a person, cause or nation. It specifically carries the nuance of loyalty combined with integrity and honesty.
Meaning: faithfulness or devotion to some person, cause or nation (noun)
Which one should you use?
While lealtà and fedeltà are often used as synonyms, they have different nuances. lealtà typically refers to moral integrity and fairness or playing by the rules. In contrast, fedeltà refers more to the emotional or contractual bond of being faithful to a person or a spouse.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun lealtà is feminine, so any accompanying adjectives must also be in the feminine form, such as una grande lealtà.
How do you pronounce it?
The word lealtà has three syllables and is pronounced /le.alˈta/. The stress is on the third syllable.
Did you know?
- While lealtà suggests integrity, the related word fedeltà is used for everything from marital faithfulness to 'loyalty points' in a store rewards program.
- In Italian legal history, the concept of lealtà is central to the principle of 'good faith' (buona fede), requiring parties to act honestly toward one another.
- The adjective leale is the root of the word lealtà, and both are closely linked to the concept of being 'legal' or following the law.
Examples in context
- Apprezzo la sua lealtà.I appreciate her loyalty.This sentence is useful for expressing appreciation for someone's lealtà.Tatoeba #7180887 by Guybrush88, translation #3694402 by AlanF_US
- Ammiriamo la tua lealtà.We admire your loyalty.This sentence is useful for expressing admiration for someone's lealtà.Tatoeba #4531803 by Guybrush88, translation #4495490 by CK
- Giurai la mia lealtà a lui.I pledged my loyalty to him.This sentence is useful for describing the act of pledging one's lealtà.Tatoeba #10055441 by Guybrush88, translation #260801 by CH
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are discussing a former colleague.
- MatteoLa sua lealtà era davvero rara.His loyalty was truly rare.
- GiuliaSì, era una persona molto onesta.Yes, he was a very honest person.
- MatteoMi manca la sua lealtà al lavoro.I miss his loyalty at work.
- GiuliaLo capisco, era un ottimo elemento.I understand, he was a great asset.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “loyalty” translations and entries lealtà, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lealtà, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
