Italian · People & Family
"Family" in Italian: famiglia
la famiglia
Family in Italian is la famiglia (fah-MEEL-yah), a feminine noun. Use la mia famiglia for my family. Relatives more broadly are i parenti, which is not the same as English parents.
Introducing yourself
La mia famiglia abita vicino a Milano.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce famiglia
Say it
fah-MEEL-yah
/faˈmiʎ.ʎa/
Famiglia stresses MEEL: fah-MEEL-yah. The gl sounds like the lli in "million". Keep the final a clear.
"Family" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la famiglia | family Your family unit. | Your family unit. |
| la mia famiglia | my family Possessive form learners use constantly. | Possessive form learners use constantly. |
| i parenti | relatives Aunts, uncles, cousins, and wider family—not "parents" alone. | Aunts, uncles, cousins, and wider family—not "parents" alone. |
| in famiglia | at home with family / within the family For things done among family. | For things done among family. |
How to use famiglia in real life
- 1Introducing yourself
La mia famiglia abita vicino a Milano.
My family lives near Milan.
La mia famiglia is the natural possessive.
- 2Weekend plans
Domenica pranzo con la famiglia.
Sunday I'm having lunch with the family.
Con la famiglia is a common weekend phrase.
- 3Looking at a photo
Questa è tutta la famiglia al mare.
This is the whole family at the seaside.
Tutta la famiglia means the whole family.
Mistakes English speakers make with famiglia
Incorrect: Nella mia famiglia i parenti sono mamma e papà.
Correct: Nella mia famiglia i genitori sono mamma e papà.
Genitori means parents. Parenti means relatives in general.
Incorrect: Il famiglia è grande.
Correct: La famiglia è grande.
Famiglia is feminine: la famiglia.
Good to know
Sunday lunch with la famiglia remains a strong habit in many Italian homes. The word covers the household and close circle; when you mean cousins and aunts, i parenti is the wider net.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Showing holiday photos to a classmate
ChatPal
Guarda: qui c'è tutta la mia famiglia.
Look: here's my whole family.
You
Che bella famiglia! Siete in tanti.
What a lovely family! There are so many of you.
ChatPal
Sì, la famiglia è numerosa. Vuoi conoscere i nomi?
Yes, the family is big. Want to know the names?
You
Certo! Raccontami della tua famiglia.
Sure! Tell me about your family.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Family" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Family" in Italian
Is famiglia feminine?
Yes: la famiglia, una famiglia numerosa. Possessives agree: la mia famiglia.
Does parenti mean parents?
No. Parenti means relatives. Parents are i genitori.
How do I say my family?
La mia famiglia. For "your family" with tu, say la tua famiglia.
What does in famiglia mean?
It means in a family setting or at home among family, as in una festa in famiglia.
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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