B2 Collocation Formal

essere di sani principi

to have strong principles

Significado

To be an ethical person.

🌍

Contexto cultural

The phrase is often used by parents and grandparents to describe the 'ideal' partner for their children. It implies a person who respects family traditions and moral codes. In a country where 'raccomandazioni' (connections) are common, being 'di sani principi' is a way to signal that you are meritocratic and honest. The 'sani principi' often overlap with Catholic social teaching, even for non-practicing Italians. It suggests a universal 'goodness' recognized by the community. Italian culture often discusses the 'furbo' (the clever/sly person). Being 'di sani principi' is the direct opposite of being a 'furbo' who takes shortcuts.

🎯

Use it in Interviews

It's a 'power phrase' in Italian job interviews. It signals that you are not just skilled, but also ethically reliable.

⚠️

Watch the Stress

If you stress the second 'i' in 'principi' (prin-CÌ-pi), you are talking about princes, not principles!

Significado

To be an ethical person.

🎯

Use it in Interviews

It's a 'power phrase' in Italian job interviews. It signals that you are not just skilled, but also ethically reliable.

⚠️

Watch the Stress

If you stress the second 'i' in 'principi' (prin-CÌ-pi), you are talking about princes, not principles!

💬

The 'Nonna' Approval

If an Italian grandmother calls you 'di sani principi', you have reached the highest level of social acceptance.

Teste-se

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase.

Mio nonno era un uomo ____ ____ ____; non ha mai mentito a nessuno.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: di sani principi

The preposition 'di' is the standard way to introduce this characteristic in Italian.

Which sentence is the most natural way to praise someone's integrity?

Scegli la frase più naturale:

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Lui è una persona di sani principi.

This is the standard, most idiomatic collocation.

Match the Italian phrase with its English equivalent.

Abbina le frasi:

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Essere di sani principi -> To be of sound principles; Essere tutto d'un pezzo -> To be very firm/uncompromising; Essere una persona perbene -> To be a respectable person

These are all related but have slightly different nuances.

Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate response.

A: 'Pensi che dovremmo fidarci di quel nuovo socio?' B: 'Assolutamente sì, lo conosco da anni ed è ____.'

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: di sani principi

'Di sani principi' is the perfect way to vouch for someone's trustworthiness in a professional context.

In which situation would you MOST likely use 'essere di sani principi'?

In quale situazione useresti questa frase?

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Recommending an honest lawyer to a colleague.

The phrase refers to moral integrity, not physical health or royalty.

🎉 Pontuação: /5

Recursos visuais

Banco de exercicios

5 exercicios
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the phrase. Fill Blank B1

Mio nonno era un uomo ____ ____ ____; non ha mai mentito a nessuno.

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: di sani principi

The preposition 'di' is the standard way to introduce this characteristic in Italian.

Which sentence is the most natural way to praise someone's integrity? Choose B2

Scegli la frase più naturale:

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Lui è una persona di sani principi.

This is the standard, most idiomatic collocation.

Match the Italian phrase with its English equivalent. Match B2

Combine cada item a esquerda com seu par a direita:

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Essere di sani principi -> To be of sound principles; Essere tutto d'un pezzo -> To be very firm/uncompromising; Essere una persona perbene -> To be a respectable person

These are all related but have slightly different nuances.

Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate response. dialogue_completion B2

A: 'Pensi che dovremmo fidarci di quel nuovo socio?' B: 'Assolutamente sì, lo conosco da anni ed è ____.'

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: di sani principi

'Di sani principi' is the perfect way to vouch for someone's trustworthiness in a professional context.

In which situation would you MOST likely use 'essere di sani principi'? situation_matching B1

In quale situazione useresti questa frase?

✓ Correto! ✗ Quase. Resposta certa: Recommending an honest lawyer to a colleague.

The phrase refers to moral integrity, not physical health or royalty.

🎉 Pontuação: /5

Perguntas frequentes

4 perguntas

Yes! You say 'Lei è una donna di sani principi'. The phrase 'sani principi' stays plural and masculine because it refers to the principles, not the person.

'Essere di sani principi' sounds slightly more formal and describes a state of being. 'Avere sani principi' is more common in casual conversation.

Not necessarily, but it often implies a traditional moral upbringing that might have religious roots.

You can say 'essere un uomo di principi', but adding 'sani' makes the compliment much stronger and more idiomatic.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

Persona perbene

similar

A respectable, well-behaved person.

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Tutto d'un pezzo

idiomatic synonym

Uncompromising, solid in character.

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Senza principi

contrast

Unprincipled, unscrupulous.

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Avere la coscienza pulita

builds on

To have a clean conscience.

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Integerrimo

specialized form

Extremely upright/honest.

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