Italian · People & Family
"Brother" in Italian: fratello
il fratello
Brother in Italian is il fratello (frah-TEL-loh), a masculine noun. Plural is i fratelli, which can mean brothers or siblings as a mixed group. Younger or older needs extra words: fratello minore, fratello maggiore.
Introducing family
Questo è mio fratello Luca.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce fratello
Say it
frah-TEL-loh
/fraˈtɛl.lo/
Fratello stresses TEL: frah-TEL-loh. Double l is held briefly. Final o stays clear.
"Brother" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il fratello | the brother Default singular noun. | Default singular noun. |
| i fratelli | the brothers; siblings Brothers, or brothers and sisters together. | Brothers, or brothers and sisters together. |
| fratello maggiore / minore | older / younger brother Age ranking in the family. | Age ranking in the family. |
| fratellastro | stepbrother; half-brother Step or half relations in everyday speech. | Step or half relations in everyday speech. |
How to use fratello in real life
- 1Introducing family
Questo è mio fratello Luca.
This is my brother Luca.
Mio fratello drops the article before a name.
- 2Phone call
Chiamo mio fratello tra poco.
I'm calling my brother soon.
Possessive mio without il before singular family nouns.
- 3Counting siblings
Siamo tre fratelli in totale.
We're three siblings in total.
Fratelli can cover a mixed sibling group.
Mistakes English speakers make with fratello
Incorrect: Il mio fratello è alto.
Correct: Mio fratello è alto.
With singular close-family nouns, skip the article after mio/tuo/suo.
Incorrect: Ho due fratelle.
Correct: Ho due fratelli. / Ho due sorelle.
Masculine plural is fratelli. Sisters are sorelle.
Good to know
Italians often keep siblings close in daily logistics: rides, Sunday lunch, shared apartments. Fratelli on a shop sign can mean a family business run by brothers, not only a blood count.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting a friend's family at lunch
ChatPal
Ti presento mio fratello Marco.
I'd like you to meet my brother Marco.
You
Ciao Marco! Anche io ho un fratello.
Hi Marco! I have a brother too.
ChatPal
Ah sì? Tuo fratello vive qui?
Oh yeah? Does your brother live here?
You
No, mio fratello studia a Bologna.
No, my brother studies in Bologna.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Brother" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Brother" in Italian
Do I say il mio fratello?
Usually mio fratello without il in the singular. Plural often keeps the article: i miei fratelli.
Can fratelli mean sisters too?
As a group label, i fratelli can mean siblings. For sisters only, use le sorelle.
How do I say older brother?
Fratello maggiore. Younger is fratello minore.
How do I pronounce fratello?
frah-TEL-loh, stress on TEL with a held double l.
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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