Italian · People & Family
"Aunt" in Italian: zia
la zia
Aunt in Italian is la zia (lah DZEE-ah), feminine: una zia, le zie. Family speech usually says mia zia without the article.
Phone call
Mia zia chiama ogni domenica mattina.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce zia
Say it
lah DZEE-ah
/ˈtsi.a/
DZEE-ah, voiced z like dz. Zie is DZEE-eh.
"Aunt" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la zia | the aunt With the article. | With the article. |
| mia zia | my aunt Possessive family form. | Possessive family form. |
| le zie | the aunts Plural. | Plural. |
| zia + name | Aunt + name Zia Maria. | Zia Maria. |
How to use zia in real life
- 1Phone call
Mia zia chiama ogni domenica mattina.
My aunt calls every Sunday morning.
Mia zia.
- 2At a wedding
La zia di Marco siede al tavolo tre.
Marco's aunt is sitting at table three.
La zia di…
- 3Bringing gifts
Porto i fiori a zia Elena.
I'm bringing flowers to Aunt Elena.
Zia + name.
Mistakes English speakers make with zia
Incorrect: Il zia arriva.
Correct: La zia arriva.
Zia is feminine.
Incorrect: La mia zia è qui. (over-article)
Correct: Mia zia è qui.
With close family, drop the article: mia zia.
Good to know
Zie often host holiday lunches and keep family news moving. Addressing someone as zia + name is affectionate even beyond blood relatives in some regions.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning a visit to an aunt
ChatPal
Tua zia abita ancora vicino al duomo?
Does your aunt still live near the cathedral?
You
Sì. Mia zia ha un balcone pieno di piante.
Yes. My aunt has a balcony full of plants.
ChatPal
Portiamo pasticcini alla zia?
Shall we bring pastries for your aunt?
You
Ottimo. La zia adora quelli alla crema.
Great. Aunt loves the cream ones.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Aunt" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Aunt" in Italian
How do I say my aunt?
Mia zia.
What is the plural?
Le zie.
Do I use an article with mia zia?
Usually no: mia zia, not la mia zia in close family talk.
Uncle and aunt together?
Often gli zii for the couple.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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