sportività
/spor.ti.viˈta/feminine
The English phrase sportsmanship is translated into Italian as sportività.
The term sportività refers to (good) behavior in sports. In Italian, the English term fair play is also widely used to describe respectful behavior and adherence to rules.
Meaning: (good) behavior in sports (noun)
Which one should you use?
While sport refers to the activity itself, sportività refers specifically to the quality of fair play and conduct.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun sportività is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /spor.ti.viˈta/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- The adjective sportivo can also be used to describe a person who is 'lively' or 'cheerful' in a social setting, regardless of whether they are actually playing a sport.
- While sportività describes behavior in athletics, it is also used to describe a person's grace or good humor when accepting a defeat or a joke in everyday life.
- In Italian legal or disciplinary sports proceedings, a lack of sportività can lead to formal sanctions, treating the concept as a tangible requirement of the rules.
Examples in context
- Gli atleti delle Olimpiadi dimostrano una grande equità sportiva durante le competizioni.The athletes at the Olympics show great sportsmanship during the competitions.
- Ha dimostrato grande sportività durante la partita.He showed great sportsmanship during the match.
- Ho apprezzato molto la tua sportività.I really appreciated your sportsmanship.
- La sportività è fondamentale nel calcio.Sportsmanship is fundamental in football.
- Mostra sempre molta sportività in campo.He always shows a lot of sportsmanship on the field.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are discussing a recent tennis match.
- LorenzoQuell'atleta ha avuto molta sportività oggi.That athlete showed a lot of sportsmanship today.
- GiuliaSì, è stato un gesto molto nobile.Yes, it was a very noble gesture.
- LorenzoLa sua sportività ha colpito tutti.His sportsmanship impressed everyone.
- GiuliaHai ragione, è un vero esempio.You're right, he is a true example.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sportsmanship” translations and entries sportività, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
