Italian · People & Family
"Child" in Italian: bambino / bambina
il bambino / la bambina
Child in Italian is il bambino for a boy and la bambina for a girl. I bambini can mean children in general. For older kids you may hear ragazzo/ragazza instead.
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How to pronounce bambino / bambina
Say it
eel bahm-BEE-noh
/il bamˈbi.no/
Bambino is bahm-BEE-noh; bambina is bahm-BEE-nah. Stress BEE.
"Child" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il bambino / la bambina | the child (boy / girl) Gendered forms. | Gendered forms. |
| i bambini | the children Mixed or general plural. | Mixed or general plural. |
| da bambino | as a child Talking about the past. | Talking about the past. |
| posto per bambini | kids' area Signs and menus. | Signs and menus. |
How to use bambino / bambina in real life
- 1Park chat
Il bambino vuole l'altalena.
The child wants the swing.
Il bambino.
- 2Family photo
Questa è mia figlia da bambina.
This is my daughter as a little girl.
Da bambina.
- 3Restaurant ask
Avete un menu per bambini?
Do you have a children's menu?
Per bambini.
Mistakes English speakers make with bambino / bambina
Incorrect: La bambino piange.
Correct: Il bambino piange. / La bambina piange.
Match gender.
Incorrect: I child sono stanchi.
Correct: I bambini sono stanchi.
Use bambini.
Good to know
Bambino covers a wide early age range; Italians also say bimbo/bimba with affection. On trains, posti per bambini and family cars are clearly marked. Teenagers usually prefer ragazzo/ragazza.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Watching kids at a playground
ChatPal
Quel bambino in rosso è tuo?
Is that child in red yours?
You
Sì, il bambino si chiama Nico.
Yes, the child's name is Nico.
ChatPal
La bambina sulla scivolo è sua cugina?
Is the girl on the slide his cousin?
You
Esatto. I bambini giocano insieme sempre.
Exactly. The children always play together.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Child" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Child" in Italian
Bambino vs ragazzo?
Bambino is a young child; ragazzo is a boy/teen/young man.
Neutral plural?
I bambini for mixed groups.
How do you say childhood?
L'infanzia; da bambino/a for 'as a child'.
Baby vs child?
Bebè/neonato for babies; bambino for young children.
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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