Italian vocabulary · Topic 3 of 10

People & Family in Italian

Family comes up early in almost any Italian conversation, often with the question "Hai fratelli?" These words cover relatives, friends, and jobs. Many people words change their ending for a man or a woman, like amico and amica, so both forms are shown.

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People & Family in Italian: common questions

Why do Italians say "mia madre" but "la mia famiglia"?

With a single family member (madre, padre, fratello) you drop the article: mia madre. With plurals, family nicknames like mamma, or the word famiglia, you keep it: le mie sorelle, la mia famiglia.

How do I say "friend" for a man or a woman?

Amico is a male friend and amica is a female friend. For a group of friends use amici, or amiche if they are all women.

What is the Italian word for grandparents?

I nonni. Grandfather is il nonno and grandmother is la nonna. Many Italians just call them nonno and nonna, like names.

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