Learn all about the word genitori (parents in Italian), how to pronounce it, and how to use it. You’ll find out the real meaning of parenti in Italian, how to say parent in Italian (genitore), what Italians call their parents, and terms for different kinds of parents, like parents-in-law (suoceri).
Table of Contents
HOW DO YOU SAY PARENTS IN ITALIAN?
The word for parents in Italian is genitori. I genitori means the parents in Italian.
The pronunciation of i genitori is: ee jeh-nee-TOH-ree
Listen to how to pronounce i genitori here:
Don’t be fooled by Italian’s sneaky false friend of the word parents. The Italian word parenti means relatives, not parents in Italian!
Genitori is a plural masculine noun, but it refers to both male and female parents.
Conosci i genitori di Francesca?
Do you know Francesca’s parents?
HOW DO YOU SAY PARENT IN ITALIAN?
Genitore is the word for parent, and is a singular masculine noun. Un genitore means a parent, and il genitore means the parent. Genitore can refer to a male or female parent, even when preceded by un or il, which are masculine articles.
The pronunciation of un genitore is: ee jeh-nee-TOH-reh
Listen to how to pronounce un genitore here:
Se hai bisogno di aiuto chiedi ad un genitore.
If you need help, ask a parent.
Genitrice is the word for a female parent, but it is used mainly in legalese and you’d be hard-pressed to hear it in everyday speech (I never have!). Una genitrice means a female parent, and la genitrice means the female parent.
The Italian word genitore derives from the Latin verb gignĕre which means to give birth to.
WHAT DO ITALIANS CALL THEIR MOM?
When talking to their mom, Italians call her Mamma. When talking about their mom, Italians say mia madre (my mother) or la mia mamma (my mom). The Italian word for Mom is mamma. Learn more about How to say Mom in Italian.
WHAT DO ITALIANS CALL THEIR DAD?
Babbo! Papà! Dad! Depending on where they are from in Italy, Italians will call their Dad one of these names or the other. Check out our article on How to say Dad in Italian.
WHAT DO ITALIANS CALL THEIR PARENTS?
When talking about their own parents, Italians say i miei genitori, literally my parents. However, Italians very often drop the word genitori completely and just say i miei to say my parents. This holds true for the possessive forms i tuoi, and i suoi as well: if an Italian asks you how i tuoi are doing, they are asking about your parents.
i miei (genitori) are my parents
i tuoi (genitori) are your parents (informal you)
i suoi (genitori) are his/her/your parents (formal you)
For example:
A. Come stanno i tuoi? How are your parents?
B. I miei stanno bene, grazie. My parents are well, thanks.
Marco vive con i suoi in un appartamento a Piazza Venezia.
Marco lives with his parents in an apartment in Venice Square.
Here are the other possessives:
i nostri genitori are our parents
i vostri genitori are your parents (plural you)
i loro genitori are their parents
For example:
Cristiano e Teresa i vostri genitori sono gentilissimi!
Cristiano and Teresa, your parents are very nice!
WHAT DO ITALIANS CALL THEIR FAMILY?
Italians call their family la mia famiglia, or my family. Famiglia is the word for family in Italian. For how to pronounce it correctly, read our article on How to say Family in Italian.
KINDS OF PARENTS IN ITALIAN
Here are the terms for different kinds of parents in Italian:
Foster parents are genitori affiditari
Adoptive parents are genitori adottivi
Single parents are genitori single
Biological parents are genitori biologici
Parents-in-law are suoceri
TO PARENT IN ITALIAN
Here are some verbs that mean to parent in Italian:
| crescere | to parent, as in to raise (children). | Mia nonna ha cresciuto otto figli. My grandmother raised eight children. |
| educare | to parent, as in to bring up, to raise (children), to teach | Secondo te oggi è più difficile educare i figli? Do you think it is more difficult raising children today? |
| allevare | to parent, as in to raise (children) | Una zia ha allevato i loro tre figli. An aunt raised their three children. |