Italian · People & Family
"Uncle" in Italian: zio
lo zio
Uncle in Italian is lo zio (loh DZEE-oh), masculine: uno zio, gli zii. Family talk usually says mio zio without the article.
Family dinner
Mio zio porta sempre il vino.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce zio
Say it
loh DZEE-oh
/ˈtsi.o/
DZEE-oh, voiced z like dz. Zii is DZEE-ee.
"Uncle" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| lo zio | the uncle With the article. | With the article. |
| mio zio | my uncle Possessive family form. | Possessive family form. |
| gli zii | the uncles / aunt & uncle pair Plural; also aunt+uncle couple. | Plural; also aunt+uncle couple. |
| zio + name | Uncle + name Zio Marco. | Zio Marco. |
How to use zio in real life
- 1Family dinner
Mio zio porta sempre il vino.
My uncle always brings the wine.
Mio zio.
- 2At the airport
Lo zio di Anna arriva dal Gate B.
Anna's uncle is arriving from Gate B.
Lo zio di…
- 3Introducing people
Questo è mio zio Paolo, di Torino.
This is my uncle Paolo, from Turin.
Zio + name.
Mistakes English speakers make with zio
Incorrect: Il zio arriva.
Correct: Lo zio arriva.
Zio takes lo/uno because it starts with z.
Incorrect: Il mio zio è qui. (over-article habit)
Correct: Mio zio è qui.
With close family, drop the article: mio zio.
Good to know
Zio is both a kinship term and a casual address among younger speakers. Gli zii can mean uncles or the aunt-and-uncle household you visit on Sundays.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Waiting for an uncle at the station
ChatPal
Tuo zio prende questo treno?
Is your uncle taking this train?
You
Sì. Mio zio manda sempre un messaggio dal binario.
Yes. My uncle always texts from the platform.
ChatPal
Ecco lo zio con il cappello verde!
There's the uncle with the green hat!
You
Perfetto. Saluto lo zio e prendiamo un caffè.
Perfect. I'll greet uncle and we'll get a coffee.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Uncle" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Uncle" in Italian
Why lo zio not il zio?
Words starting with z take lo/uno.
How do I say my uncle?
Mio zio.
What is the plural?
Gli zii.
Can zio be a nickname?
Yes—friends sometimes call a man zio casually.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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