Viva il nonno! Long live Italian grandpas! In popular imagination, grandpa is the Italian patriarch, guardian of history, and a connection to the past . . . and in many families, he is exactly that, as well as a beloved babysitter for his nipoti, or grandchildren.
Learn how to say nonno, the word for grandpa and grandfather in Italian, as well as how to pronounce and use it. You’ll also find out the trick to how to say my grandpa, talk about grandpa and describe him, and how to talk about grandma (nonna) and grandparents (nonni). There’s information about La Festa dei Nonni, or Grandparents’ Day, and a special song dedicated to nonno.
Table of Contents
GRANDPA IN ITALIAN
The Italian word for grandpa, grandfather, grampa, and gramps is nonno.
Un nonno is a grandpa, while il nonno means the grandpa.
The pronunciation of nonno is: NOHN-noh
Listen to how to pronounce nonno here:
Ho un nonno che suona la fisarmonica.
I have a grandpa who plays the accordion.
In Italian, a double consonant is drawn out, and should take double the time of a single consonant. So make sure you give time to the double n in nonno. It may feel strange at first, but practice makes perfect!
GRANDPAS IN ITALIAN
Nonni means grandpas and grandfathers in Italian. Nonni is the plural of nonno.
The pronunciation of nonni of is: NOHN-nee
Listen to how to pronounce nonni here:
Entrambi i nonni di Francesca si chiamano Giuseppe!
Both of Francesca’s grandfathers are named Giuseppe!
Nonni has two possible meanings. It can refer to a group of all grandfathers, or a group of grandmothers and grandfathers: grandparents. Keep reading to find out why!
NONNINO – A TERM OF ENDEARMENT
Nonnino, or little grandfather, is a term of endearment, and an especially affectionate way to say grandpa in Italian.
The pronunciation of nonnino is: nohn-NEE-noh
Listen to how to pronounce nonnino here:
Nonnino posso avere una caramella?
(Little) grandpa can I have a piece of candy?
GREAT GRANDPA
Bisnonno means great grandpa, or great grandfather, in Italian.
The pronunciation bisnonno of is: BEEZ-nohn-noh
Listen to how to pronounce bisnonno here:
Il bisnonno di Silvia indossa sempre la coppola.
Silvio’s great grandfather always wears a coppola hat.
HOW TO USE THE WORD NONNO
SPEAKING TO GRANDPA IN ITALIAN
When you are speaking to him, you can call your grandpa nonno in Italian. Here are some examples:
Ciao nonno!
Hi Grandpa!
and
Buon compleanno nonno!
Happy birthday Grandpa!
To be specific when speaking to or about a certain grandfather, you can use his name as you would in English.
Nonno Carlo is Grandpa Carlo
Nonno Agostino abita lontano ma Nonno Enzo abita accanto.
Grandpa Agostino lives far away but Grandpa Enzo lives next door.
IL NONNO
Italians also use il nonno to refer to their grandpa, or to grandfathers in general.
For example:
Ciao nonno!
Hi Grandpa!
and
A: Papà, dov’è il nonno? Dad, where’s Grandpa?
B: È andato a comprare il pane. He’s gone to buy bread.
MY GRANDPA: POSSESSIVES
When you wish to say my grandpa, or my grandfather, use mio nonno.
Usually possessives in Italian also require the direct article (the). For example: il mio amico means my (male) friend. However, family members are a big exception.
Do not use the direct article with the SINGULAR, unaltered nouns of most family members. If there is an adjective before or after the family member, use the article. Also, use the article with the possessive loro.
So:
| mio nonno is my grandpa tuo nonno is your grandpa (informal you) suo nonno is his/her/your grandpa (formal you) | nostro nonno is our grandpa vostro nonno your grandpa (plural you) |
But:
Il loro nonno is their grandpa
Il mio fantastico nonno is my fantastic grandpa
Il mio nonnino is my (little) grandpa
WORDS THAT GRANDPAS CALL THEIR GRANDCHILDREN
Here are some terms of endearment that grandfathers use with their dear grandchildren, which both translate to grandpa’s sweetheart in English:
Amore del nonno means Grandpa’s sweetheart (literally Grandpa’s love)
Bello/bella del nonno means Grandpa’s sweetheart (literally Grandpa’s handsome boy/Grandpa’s beautiful girl)
GRANDMA IN ITALIAN
Nonna means grandma, or grandmother in Italian. To learn more, read Grandma in Italian.
The pronunciation nonna of is: NOH-nnah
Listen to how to pronounce nonna here:
GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS: GRANDPARENTS
There are two ways to say grandmas and grandpas, or grandmothers and grandfathers in Italian.
The first is nonne e nonni (literally: grandmas and grandpas, or grandmothers and grandfathers).
However, because of how Italian word genders work, the plural masculine word nonni (grandpas, grandfathers) can be used for a mixed group of grandmothers and grandfathers: grandparents. This is true even if there are 100 grandfathers and 2 grandmothers: just one man trumps a feminine group and turns the noun masculine, to nonni. So the word for grandparents in Italian is nonni.
You may want to read more about Relatives in Italian.
FESTA DEI NONNI: GRANDPARENTS’ DAY IN ITALIAN
Italy does not celebrate a Grandfathers’ Day. Instead, there is Grandparents’ Day to give Italian grandmothers and grandfathers their due.
In Italy, Grandparents’ Day is called La Festa dei Nonni, and it is celebrated on October 2nd, which is also the Catholic church’s feast day of Guardian Angels. Italian grandparents do watch over their grandchildren, in fact, they are the backbone of the childcare system: in 2020 it was reported that Italian grandparents were the primary babysitters in 60% of households for children age 0-5, and 47% for children age 5- 10, where both parents worked.
There are about 182 elderly people for every 100 young people in Italy. Despite grandparents’ (and their labor’s) importance in Italian culture, the Festa dei Nonni only became an official holiday in 2005, and still is not a deeply rooted or major holiday in Italy. The Festa dei Nonni does have an official flower which grandchildren give their grandparents: the nontiscordardimé, or forget-me-not.
HOW TO DESCRIBE YOUR GRANDPA IN ITALIAN
Want to write your Grandpa a Grandparents’ Day card, or a birthday card in Italian? Or maybe you’d like to brag in Italian about how great your Grandpa is? Here are some ways to talk to, or about your grandfather:
Sei il miglior nonno del mondo!
You’re the best grandpa in the world!
Ti voglio molto bene nonno!
I love you very much Grandpa!
Il mio nonno è il migliore del mondo! Gli voglio molto bene!
My grandpa is the best in the world! I love him very much!
Attenzione!! Italians use ti voglio bene to tell a family member or platonic friend I love you, not ti amo! The direct translation of ti voglio bene is I want you well and it’s used for friendly and familial love.
On the other hand, ti amo means I love you and is reserved for romantic love. Use it with your spouse, partner, lover, or significant other.
Here are some useful adjectives for describing your Grandpa in Italian:
Nonno sei . . . Grandpa you’re . . .
Mio nonno è . . . My grandpa is . . .
| importante | important |
| forte | strong |
| paziente | patient |
| intelligente | intelligent |
| vivace | energetic |
| simpatico | nice |
| divertente | fun |
| interessante | interesting |
| speciale | special |
| unico | unique |
| fantastico | fantastic |
| gentile | kind |
| geniale | brilliant |
| creativo | creative |
NONNO HOLLYWOOD
The Italian singer-songwriter Enrico Nigiotti wrote the song Nonno Hollywood after his own grandfather died in 2018. It was published in 2019, received acclaim at the San Remo Italian music festival, and won that year’s Premio Lunezia, or Lunezia song Prize.
Though the song’s title means Hollywood Grandpa, it’s not about glamor or movie stars. The lyrics mourn simpler, precious times in the past, and attest to the deep connection we can have with our grandfathers. Here is a sample:
| Nonno mi hai lasciato dentro ad un mondo a pile Centri commerciali al posto del cortile Una generazione con nuovi discorsi Si parla più l’inglese che i dialetti nostri | Grandpa you left me in a battery-powered world Malls instead of courtyards A generation with new conversations We speak more in English than in our own dialects |