How to Talk About Your Family in Italian

While Italians are passionate about a lot of things—food, calcio, fashion, to name a few—family is one of the most important. Since it is such an essential part of Italian culture, you’re  going to be asked about your family when you start to chat with natives, and it’s a great conversation starter. So what specific vocabulary words do you need to know, and which phrases will help the conversation flow smoothly? Basic Vocabulary - Family Members aunt la zia boy il ragazzo brother il fratello brother–in–law il cognato cousin (female) la cugina cousin (male) il cugino daughter la figlia daughter–in–law la nuora family la famiglia father il padre father–in–law il suocero girl la ragazza grandchild il nipote granddaughter la nipote grandfather il nonno grandmother la nonna grandparents i nonni grandson il nipote husband il marito mother la madre mother–in–law la suocera nephew il nipote niece la nipote parents i genitori relative il parente sister la sorella sister–in–law la cognata son il figlio son–in–law il genero stepfather il patrigno stepmother la matrigna step brother; half brother il fratellastro step sister; half sister la sorellastra uncle lo zio wife la moglie Conversational Phrases A casa tutto bene? - Is everything good at home?A casa here is used as in a figurative way to mean, â€Å"family†.​ Another option is to ask: Come sta la sua famiglia? - How is your family? If you want to ask informally, you can say, â€Å"Come sta la tua famiglia?† Come stanno i suoi? - How are your (parents)? If you want to ask informally, you can say, â€Å"Come stanno i tuoi?† FUN FACT: Italians shorten â€Å"i tuoi genitori† to â€Å"i tuoi†, so you can say â€Å"i miei† instead of â€Å"i miei genitori† and sound  more Italian. Ha fratelli o sorelle? - Do you have brothers or sisters? If you want to ask informally, you can say, â€Å"Hai fratelli o sorelle? Ha dei figli? - Do you have any kids? If you want to ask informally, you can say, â€Å"Hai dei figli?† Ho due maschi e una femmina. - I have two boys and one girl.Si chiama†¦ - His/her name is...Hai una famiglia numerosa! - You have a big family!Sono figlio unico. - I’m an only child. (male)Sono figlia unica. - I’m an only child. (female)Lei à ¨ sposato/a? - Are you married? If you want to ask informally, you can say, â€Å"Sei sposato/a?†. Use â€Å"sposato†, ending in -o, if you’re asking a male. Use â€Å"sposata,† ending in -a, if you’re asking a female. La mia famiglia viene dalla (Sardegna). - My family is from (Sardegna).Mio figlio si à ¨ appena laureato! - My son just graduated!Vado a trovare la mia famiglia (in Calabria). - I’m going to visit my family (in Calabria).Che lavoro fa (tuo marito)? - What does your husband do for work?Mia madre fa (l’insegnante). - My mother is a (teacher).Dove abita? - Where does he/she live?Le presento (mio marito). -  Let me introduce my husband to you. If you want to say this informally, you can say, â€Å"Ti presento (mia moglie)†. Mi saluti sua moglie! - Say hello to your wife for me! If you want to say this informally, you can say, â€Å"Salutami (tua moglie)!†. Practice Dialogue The best way to learn the language is to see the phrases and the vocabulary in action, so below you’ll find a practice dialogue between two friends who have run into each other on the street. Person 1: Ciao! Come stai? - Hey! How are you?Person 2: Sto bene, e tu? - I’m doing well, and you?Person 1: Tutto a posto, come sta la tua famiglia? - Everything is good, how is your family?Person 2: Sta bene, mia figlia si à ¨ appena laureata! - They are good, my daughter just graduated!Person 1: Complimenti!! E tuo marito? - Congratulations!! And your husband?Person 2: Lavora moltissimo, ma andrà   in pensione fra un anno. E tua figlia? - He’s working a lot, but he’ll be retiring in a year. And your daughter?Person 1: Giulia? La settimana scorsa ha compiuto sedici anni. - Giulia? Last week she turned 16 years old.Person 2: Davvero? Lei à ¨ cresciuta troppo in fretta! - Really? She grew up too fast!Person 1: Lo so, à ¨ cosà ¬. Allora, devo andare, à ¨ stato bello vederti, a presto! - I know, that’s how it is. Well, I’ve got to go, it was great to see, talk soon!Person 2: A presto! - Talk soon!