Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Honest" in Italian: onesto/a
onesto/a
Honest in Italian is onesto (oh-NEH-stoh) for masculine and onesta for feminine. Per essere onesti means to be honest as a preface.
Job reference
È un collega onesto e puntuale.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce onesto/a
Say it
oh-NEH-stoh
/oˈnɛ.sto/
Onesto stresses NEH: oh-NEH-stoh. Feminine onesta is oh-NEH-stah.
"Honest" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| onesto | honest (m.) Masculine singular. | Masculine singular. |
| onesta | honest (f.) Feminine singular. | Feminine singular. |
| per essere onesti | to be honest Preface before an opinion. | Preface before an opinion. |
| persona onesta | honest person Character praise. | Character praise. |
How to use onesto/a in real life
- 1Job reference
È un collega onesto e puntuale.
He's an honest and punctual colleague.
Onesto masculine.
- 2Soft opinion
Per essere onesta, il film era lento.
To be honest, the movie was slow.
Onesta agreeing with the speaker (f.).
- 3Market seller
Quel negoziante è onesto sui prezzi.
That shopkeeper is honest about prices.
Onesto for fair dealing.
Mistakes English speakers make with onesto/a
Incorrect: Lei è onesto.
Correct: Lei è onesta.
Agree gender: onesta for feminine.
Incorrect: Sono very honest.
Correct: Sono molto onesto/a.
Use onesto/a.
Good to know
Calling someone onesto is serious praise in Italy — it suggests fair dealing, not only truth-telling. Per essere onesti softens a frank opinion.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Giving frank feedback on a draft
ChatPal
Dimmi la verità: è chiaro?
Tell me the truth: is it clear?
You
Per essere onesto, il secondo paragrafo confonde.
To be honest, the second paragraph confuses.
ChatPal
Grazie. Preferisco un parere onesto.
Thanks. I prefer an honest opinion.
You
Ok — sei stato onesto anche tu con me altre volte.
Ok — you've been honest with me other times too.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Honest" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Honest" in Italian
What are the gender forms?
Onesto (m.), onesta (f.), onesti/oneste (plural).
How do I say to be honest…?
Per essere onesti… (or onesta if you agree with a feminine speaker).
Is sincero the same?
Sincero is sincere/frank; onesto leans toward honest/fair.
How do I praise an honest person?
È una persona onesta.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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