Italian · People & Family
"Brother-in-law" in Italian: cognato
il cognato
Brother-in-law in Italian is il cognato (eel kon-YAH-toh). A sister-in-law is la cognata. Plural mixed group: i cognati.
Family BBQ
Mio cognato porta le grigliate.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cognato
Say it
eel kon-YAH-toh
/koɲˈɲa.to/
Cognato stresses YAH: kon-YAH-toh. Gn like canyon.
"Brother-in-law" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il cognato | the brother-in-law Default noun. | Default noun. |
| mio cognato | my brother-in-law Talking about him. | Talking about him. |
| i cognati | the siblings-in-law Brother- and sister-in-law together. | Brother- and sister-in-law together. |
| dal cognato | at my brother-in-law's Visiting. | Visiting. |
How to use cognato in real life
- 1Family BBQ
Mio cognato porta le grigliate.
My brother-in-law is bringing the grilled meat.
Mio cognato without article.
- 2Introductions
Ti presento il cognato di Giulia.
I'd like you to meet Giulia's brother-in-law.
Il cognato di + name.
- 3Weekend invite
Il cognato ci ha invitati a cena sabato.
My brother-in-law invited us to dinner Saturday.
Il cognato when clear whose.
Mistakes English speakers make with cognato
Incorrect: La cognato arriva tardi.
Correct: Il cognato arriva tardi.
Cognato is masculine; cognata is feminine.
Incorrect: Lui è mio brother-in-law.
Correct: Lui è mio cognato.
Use cognato.
Good to know
Cognato covers your sibling's spouse and your spouse's brother. Context usually makes the exact link clear at the table.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning who brings what to a party
ChatPal
Tuo cognato beve birra o vino?
Does your brother-in-law drink beer or wine?
You
Birra. Il cognato non beve mai vino rosso.
Beer. My brother-in-law never drinks red wine.
ChatPal
Allora ne prendo una cassa.
Then I'll get a case.
You
Perfetto — mio cognato sarà felice.
Perfect — my brother-in-law will be happy.
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-law" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Brother-in-law" in Italian
What is the feminine form?
Cognata, sister-in-law.
How do I say my brother-in-law?
Mio cognato.
Does cognato mean cousin?
No. Cousin is cugino. Cognato is in-law.
Plural?
I cognati (and le cognate for women only).
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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