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Often I hear phrases like,
Sei proprio un italiano.
Sei proprio un italiano doc.
Sei proprio un italiano vero.
Sei proprio un italiano di professione.
and so on.
Do they have a positive or a negative connotation? And, be the first or the second case, what do they precisely mean?
It means
You are a stereotypical (or typical) Italian.
This can be said either implying pride or criticism, depending on which aspect of your interlocutor refers to within the context.
The first and the last sentences have a negative connotation, which is based on any possible negative cliché related to being an Italian. The second and the third ones are positive, but still referring to some clichè.
EG: if you have an Italian friend who has a croissant and coffee for breakfast every morning, you could say to him, ehy "Tu sei un italiano doc" (You are really Italian).
Sei proprio un italiano.
Sounds offensive...
Sei proprio un italiano doc.
Sounds good
Sei proprio un italiano vero.
Sounds good
Sei proprio un italiano di professione.
Sounds offensive
