Instantly Boost Your Italian with these Commonly-used Words
Nationalities
◉ Italiano ➙ Italian
◉ Americano ➙ American
◉ Inglese ➙ English
◉ Australiano ➙ Australian
◉ Canadese ➙ Canadian
◉ Neozelandese ➙ New Zealander
◉ Irlandese ➙ Irish
◉ Scozzese ➙ Scottish
◉ Tedesco ➙ German
◉ Brasiliano ➙ Brazilian
As nationalities are a characteristic of a person, anytime you refer to a person’s nationality, it must agree in gender and number with who you are talking about.
Sono americana
I’m American (female)
Siete Italiani?
Are you guys Italian?
Il mio miglior amico è canadese
My best friend is Canadian
Countries
◉ L’Italia ➙ Italy
◉ Gli Stati Uniti ➙ United States
◉ l’Australia ➙ Australia
◉ La spagna ➙ Spain
◉ Il giappone ➙ Japan
◉ Il messico ➙ Mexico
◉ La cina ➙ China
◉ Il canada ➙ Canada
◉ Il sudafrica ➙ South Africa
◉ La francia ➙ France
Adoro l’italia!
I love Italy!
Voglio andare in francia l’anno prossimo
I want to go to France next year
Il mio paese preferito è il giappone
My favorite country is Japan
Professions
◉ L'insegnante ➙ teacher
◉ Il dottore ➙ doctor
◉ L’infermiere ➙ nurse
◉ L’avvocato ➙ lawyer
◉ Il commesso ➙ sales clerk
◉ Il cuoco ➙ chef
◉ l’agricoltore ➙ farmer
◉ Il giornalista ➙ journalist
◉ l’attore ➙ actor
◉ l’architetto ➙ architect
In Italian, the most common way to talk about your occupation is to say that you “do” an occupation, rather than say that you “are” a certain professional. This means that you use the verb FARE when talking about people’s jobs. The Italian definite article is also always used before the noun and, as always, both the article and the noun have to agree with the person in gender and number.
Faccio l’insegnante di italiano
I’m an Italian teacher
Marta fa l’avvocata
Marta is a lawyer
Mi piacerebbe fare l’infermiere
I want to be a nurse (male)
Family
◉ La madre ➙ mother
◉ Il padre ➙ father
◉ Il fratello ➙ brother
◉ La sorella ➙ sister
◉ Il figlio ➙ son
◉ La figlia ➙ daughter
◉ La zia ➙ aunt
◉ Lo zio ➙ uncle
◉ Il cugino ➙ cousin
◉ Il nonno ➙ grandfather
◉ La nonna ➙ grandmother
La madre di Gianni è fa una buonissima lasagna
Gianni’s mother makes a delicious lasagna
Ho tre figli
I have three kids
La nonna ci fa sempre da mangiare
Grandma always makes us something to eat
