In a sentence
Per me, è una scelta morale importante.
For me, it's an important moral choice.
Non è stato molto morale mentire così.
It wasn't very moral to lie like that.
Pensi che sia morale copiare a scuola?
Do you think it's moral to cheat at school?
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|
| morale | masculine · singular |
| morale | feminine · singular |
| morali | masculine · plural |
| morali | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- As an adjective, morale usually follows the noun: principi morali, responsabilità morale. Before the noun is possible but more literary or emphatic.
- Do not confuse morale (moral/ethical) with morale as a noun in English. Italian morale can also be a noun meaning morale/spirit.
- Use etico for ethics-related, professional, or philosophical contexts; morale is broader and often more personal, social, or religious.
Meaning · noun
morals
- morale, spirits (masculine: il morale)
- moral (of a story or fable)
- moral philosophy
In a sentence
La morale della storia è molto semplice.
The moral of the story is very simple.
Hai studiato morale all'università quest'anno?
Did you study moral philosophy at university this year?
Non condivido la sua morale sul lavoro.
I don't agree with his morals at work.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|
| morale | feminine · singular |
| morali | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Usually singular and often collective: la morale cattolica, la morale pubblica. For one lesson or takeaway, Italian more often uses morale della favola.
- Do not confuse morale with moralità: moralità is more abstract or evaluative, while morale often refers to a moral code or ethical system.
- In philosophy, morale can mean ethics, but etica is often the more common modern term in academic and everyday contexts.
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