Lesson 9.1: Meet the Family – Names and Relationships 👨👩👧👦🇮🇹 #
In Italy, family isn’t just important—it’s sacred. Whether you’re meeting someone’s nonna for the first time or proudly talking about your fratello, knowing how to introduce your family members (without accidentally calling your cousin a watermelon) is key to sounding like a true Italian.
What You’ll Learn #
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:
- Introduce your family members confidently.
- Use the correct Italian terms for different family relationships.
- Avoid calling your zio (uncle) a zio cane (uncle dog).
Essential Family Vocabulary #
Here’s a list of the most common family members in Italian. Memorize these and you’ll be ready for any family gathering—whether it’s yours or someone else’s!
| Italian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Madre | Mother | MAH-dreh |
| Padre | Father | PAH-dreh |
| Genitori | Parents | Jeh-nee-TOH-ree |
| Fratello | Brother | Fra-TEL-loh |
| Sorella | Sister | Soh-REL-lah |
| Nonno | Grandfather | NON-noh |
| Nonna | Grandmother | NON-nah |
| Zio | Uncle | TSEE-oh |
| Zia | Aunt | TSEE-ah |
| Cugino | Cousin (male) | Koo-JEE-noh |
| Cugina | Cousin (female) | Koo-JEE-nah |
| Figlio | Son | FEEL-yoh |
| Figlia | Daughter | FEEL-yah |
| Marito | Husband | Mah-REE-toh |
| Moglie | Wife | MOH-lyeh |
Example Dialogue #
Scenario: Geoff is meeting Viktor’s family for the first time.
- Geoff: Ciao Viktor! Questa è la tua famiglia?
(Hi Viktor! Is this your family?) - Viktor: Sì! Ti presento mia madre, mio padre e mia sorella.
(Yes! Let me introduce you to my mother, my father, and my sister.) - Geoff: Piacere di conoscervi!
(Nice to meet you!) - Viktor: E questo è mio zio Carlo.
(And this is my uncle Carlo.) - Geoff: Ciao, Zio Carlo! Amo l’Italia!
(Hi, Uncle Carlo! I love Italy!) - Zio Carlo: Bravo! Ma attenzione—io non sono il cane!
(Good job! But careful—I’m not the dog!)
Practice Time #
-
Introduce Your Family:
Try introducing your own family members in Italian. For example:- Questa è mia madre. (This is my mother.)
- Questo è mio fratello. (This is my brother.)
-
Fill in the Blanks:
Complete the sentences with the correct family member.- Mio ___ è molto simpatico. (My mother is very nice.)
- La mia ___ cucina la migliore pasta! (My grandmother cooks the best pasta!)
Quick Tips #
- Formal vs. Informal: When meeting someone’s family for the first time, it’s polite to use formal greetings like Piacere di conoscerla (Nice to meet you).
- Plural Forms: Remember that genitori means parents, and fratelli can mean siblings (not just brothers).
- Beware of False Friends: Parenti means relatives, not parents! Don’t mix them up or you’ll confuse everyone.
What’s Next? #
Now that you’ve met the family, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Head over to Exercise 9.1: Family Ties – Introducing Your Famiglia and see how well you can introduce your Italian family.
✨ Bravissimo! Soon, you’ll be the life of the family gathering. Buona fortuna! 🎉