Italian for English speakers School · Lesson 5

Asking about family members

Family in Italian — Hai fratelli e sorelle? (Do you have brothers and sisters?) — using avere for family possession.

Conversation

  1. Lindo Lindo

    Hai fratelli o sorelle?

    Do you have brothers or sisters?

    Tip: <Sorella> = One sister <Sorelle> = Many sisters

  2. Cassian Cassian

    No, non ho fratelli

    No, I don't have siblings

    Tip: <Fratello> = One brother <Fratelli> = Many brothers <Non> not + verb in a negative sentence

  3. Lindo Lindo

    Hai un cane o un gatto?

    Do you have a dog or a cat?

  4. Cassian Cassian

    No, ma ho un robot

    No, I don't. But I have a robot

    Tip: When used in Italian, non-Italian words don't have the final "s" for plural, so both "robot" and "robots" would <robot>

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'siblings' in Italian?

Fratelli (also used for siblings generally), or fratelli e sorelle (specific). Hai fratelli? = 'do you have siblings?'.

How do you say 'I don't have ...'?

Non ho + noun: non ho fratelli = 'I don't have siblings'. Non ho fame = 'I'm not hungry'.

Italian family vocabulary?

Fratello/sorella (brother/sister), padre/madre (parents), zio/zia (uncle/aunt), cugino/a (cousin), nonno/a (grandparent), nipote (niece/nephew/grandchild).

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