comportare

Comportare is an Italian verb with several related meanings. In common use it means to behave or to conduct oneself, and it can also mean to entail, involve, or require as a consequence of a decision or action. The verb appears both transitively (comportare qualcosa) and reflexively (comportarsi).

The word derives from Latin comportāre, formed by com- (together, with) and portāre (to carry). The sense of bringing oneself or bringing something along evolved into the behavioral meaning that is standard in modern Italian. In everyday speech, the reflexive form si comporta is the usual way to express personal conduct.

Usage spans several senses. For behavior: “Si comporta bene in pubblico” means he or she behaves well in public. For implications or requirements: “Questa decisione comporta costi” or “Questo progetto comporta diverse sfide” indicate that costs or challenges are entailed. Transitive forms follow typical -are conjugation patterns: presente indicativo io or he comporto, tu comporti, lui/lei comporta; reflexive present: io mi comporto, tu ti comporti, lui si comporta. Passato prossimo uses avere: ho comportato / mi sono comportato, etc.

Note that, unlike some senses of "comportare" in English, the verb is not used to denote physical carriage in most contexts; that sense is usually expressed with portare or trasportare. The related reflexive verb “comportarsi” specifically concerns manners and behavior.