All the words you need to talk about your family, friends, partners, and relationships. Includes important notes on words that have more than one meaning, and formal titles used in Italian.
Immediate Family
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| La famiglia | fah‑mee‑lyah | The family |
| I genitori | jeh‑nee‑toh‑ree | Parents |
| Il padre / Papà | pah‑dreh / pah‑pah | Father / Dad Papà = affectionate / everyday |
| La madre / Mamma | mah‑dreh / mah‑mah | Mother / Mum Mamma = affectionate / everyday |
| I figli | fee‑lyee | Children / Sons and daughters |
| Il figlio | fee‑lyoh | Son |
| La figlia | fee‑lyah | Daughter |
| Il fratello | frah‑teh‑loh | Brother |
| La sorella | soh‑reh‑lah | Sister |
| Il marito | mah‑ree‑toh | Husband |
| La moglie | moh‑lyeh | Wife |
| Il coniuge | koh‑nyoo‑jeh | Spouse (formal / official) |
Extended Family
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Some words have two meanings — context tells you which one! For example: nipote means BOTH grandson AND nephew; nonna is grandmother but also used affectionately for old ladies.
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Il nonno / Nonno | non‑noh | Grandfather / Grandpa |
| La nonna / Nonna | non‑nah | Grandmother / Grandma |
| Lo zio / Zio | tsee‑oh | Uncle |
| La zia / Zia | tsee‑ah | Aunt |
| Il cugino | koo‑jee‑noh | Cousin (male) |
| La cugina | koo‑jee‑nah | Cousin (female) |
| Il nipote | nee‑poh‑teh | Grandson OR Nephew Use context to know which — e.g. “nipote di nonno” = grandson; “nipote di zio” = nephew |
| La nipote | nee‑poh‑teh | Granddaughter OR Niece |
| Il bisnonno | bees‑non‑noh | Great‑grandfather |
| La bisnonna | bees‑non‑nah | Great‑grandmother |
| Il genero | jeh‑neh‑roh | Son‑in‑law |
| La nuora | nwo‑rah | Daughter‑in‑law |
| Il suocero | swo‑cheh‑roh | Father‑in‑law |
| La suocera | swo‑cheh‑rah | Mother‑in‑law |
| Il cognato | koh‑nyah‑toh | Brother‑in‑law |
| La cognata | koh‑nyah‑tah | Sister‑in‑law |
Partners, Friends & People
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Il ragazzo | rah‑gat‑tsoh | Boy / Young man / Boyfriend Context shows meaning: “il mio ragazzo” = my boyfriend |
| La ragazza | rah‑gat‑tsah | Girl / Young woman / Girlfriend “la mia ragazza” = my girlfriend |
| Il fidanzato | fee‑dan‑tsah‑toh | Fiancé / Engaged partner (male) |
| La fidanzata | fee‑dan‑tsah‑tah | Fiancée / Engaged partner (female) |
| Il compagno | kom‑pah‑nyoh | Partner / Companion (male — unmarried) |
| La compagna | kom‑pah‑nyah | Partner / Companion (female — unmarried) |
| L’amico | lah‑mee‑koh | Friend (male) |
| L’amica | lah‑mee‑kah | Friend (female) |
| Gli amici | lyah‑mee‑chee | Friends (mixed group or all male) |
| Le amiche | leh ah‑mee‑keh | Friends (all female) |
| Il conoscente | koh‑noh‑shen‑teh | Acquaintance (male) |
| La conoscente | koh‑noh‑shen‑teh | Acquaintance (female) |
Status, Age & Describing Relationships
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Single / Single | seen‑gleh | Single / Unmarried |
| Sposato / Sposata | spoh‑zah‑toh / spoh‑zah‑tah | Married |
| Divorziato / Divorziata | dee‑vor‑tsyah‑toh / dee‑vor‑tsyah‑tah | Divorced |
| Vedovo / Vedova | veh‑doh‑voh / veh‑doh‑vah | Widower / Widow |
| Separato / Separata | seh‑pah‑rah‑toh / seh‑pah‑rah‑tah | Separated |
| Giovane | joh‑vah‑neh | Young |
| Vecchio / Vecchia | veh‑kyoh / veh‑kyah | Old / Elderly |
| Adulto / Adulta | ah‑dool‑toh / ah‑dool‑tah | Adult |
| Bambino / Bambina | bam‑bee‑noh / bam‑bee‑nah | Child / Kid |
| Ragazzo / Ragazza | rah‑gat‑tsoh / rah‑gat‑tsah | Teenager / Young person |
| Parente / Parente | pah‑ren‑teh | Relative / Family member |
| Conoscere | koh‑noh‑sheh‑reh | To know / To be acquainted with |
| Incontrare | een‑kon‑trah‑reh | To meet |
| Volere bene a | voh‑leh‑reh beh‑neh ah | To love / To be fond of (used for family & friends) |
Formal Titles & Polite Address
ℹ️ CULTURE NOTE: Italians use titles often, especially with older people, strangers or in formal situations. You will hear these all the time!
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning & Use |
|---|---|---|
| Signore | see‑nyoh‑reh | Mr / Sir — for men |
| Signora | see‑nyoh‑rah | Mrs / Madam — for married women or older women |
| Signorina | see‑nyoh‑ree‑nah | Miss — for young or unmarried women (less used now, Signora is safe for all) |
| Sig. / Sig.ra / Sig.na | — | Written abbreviations |
| Nonno / Nonna | non‑noh / non‑nah | Used respectfully for any elderly man / woman, even if not family |
| Zio / Zia | tsee‑oh / tsee‑ah | Used affectionately for older family friends |
Useful Phrases
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ho una famiglia numerosa | oh oo‑nah fah‑mee‑lyah noo‑meh‑roh‑zah | I have a big family |
| Sono figlio unico / figlia unica | soh‑no fee‑lyoh oo‑nee‑koh / fee‑lyah oo‑nee‑kah | I am an only child |
| Ho due fratelli e una sorella | oh doo‑eh frah‑teh‑lee eh oo‑nah soh‑reh‑lah | I have two brothers and one sister |
| Mio padre lavora in banca | mee‑oh pah‑dreh lah‑voh‑rah een ban‑kah | My father works in a bank |
| Mia madre è insegnante | mee‑ah mah‑dreh eh een‑seh‑nyan‑teh | My mother is a teacher |
| Vivo con i miei genitori | vee‑voh kon ee myeh jeh‑nee‑toh‑ree | I live with my parents |
| Ho un ragazzo / una ragazza | oh oon rah‑gat‑tsoh / oo‑nah rah‑gat‑tsah | I have a boyfriend / girlfriend |
| Siamo sposati da due anni | syah‑mo spoh‑zah‑tee dah doo‑eh an‑nee | We have been married for two years |