Possessive Adjectives

Italiano A1A15. Unit 5: My Family

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Possessive Adjectives with Family Members

In Italian, possessive adjectives (like my, your, his/her) change based on the gender and number of the thing possessed. For example: il mio (my – masculine) and la mia (my – feminine).

The Golden Rule for Family Members

When you use possessive adjectives with singular family members (like mother, father, brother, sister), you do not use the definite article (il, la)!

Examples

Italian English
mia madre my mother
tuo fratello your brother
sua sorella his/her sister
i miei genitori my parents (plural keep the article!)

Common Mistakes

Remember to add the article back for plural family members (i miei fratelli) or when using words like la mia famiglia (family is not a direct singular relative).

Words

madre
mother
Mia madre è gentile.My mother is kind.
padre
father
Mio padre lavora.My father works.
fratello
brother
Ho un fratello.I have a brother.
sorella
sister
Dov'è tua sorella?Where is your sister?
genitori
parents
I miei genitori sono qui.My parents are here.
figlio
son
Questo è mio figlio.This is my son.
figlia
daughter
Tua figlia studia.Your daughter studies.
nonno
grandfather
Mio nonno è anziano.My grandfather is elderly.
nonna
grandmother
Sua nonna cucina bene.His grandmother cooks well.
zio
uncle
Mio zio vive a Roma.My uncle lives in Rome.
zia
aunt
Tua zia è simpatica.Your aunt is nice.
cugino
cousin (male)
Mio cugino ha vent'anni.My cousin is twenty years old.
famiglia
family
La mia famiglia è grande.My family is big.
marito
husband
Questo è mio marito.This is my husband.
moglie
wife
Dov'è tua moglie?Where is your wife?
nipote
nephew / niece / grandchild
Mio nipote gioca.My nephew plays.

Lessons are prepared with the help of AI.

Patterns

Mio ___ si chiama ___.

Used to introduce a male family member and his name.

Mio padre si chiama Marco.My father's name is Marco.

Mia ___ è molto ___.

Used to describe a female family member.

Mia sorella è molto simpatica.My sister is very nice.

Questo è il mio ___.

Used to present a family member where the article is required.

Questo è il mio cugino.This is my cousin.