nato
/ˈna.to/
In Italian, the English phrase 'born' is translated as nato.
The term is an adjective used to describe the state of having been given birth to.
Meaning: given birth to (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word must match the gender and number of the person being referred to. Use nato if the speaker is referring to a male. Use nata if the person is female. For a group of males or a mixed group of males and females, use nati. If referring to a group consisting only of females, use nate.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈna.to/. The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the verb avere (to have) instead of essere (to be) when saying someone was born.
Did you know?
- The word nato can also be used to mean 'natural' or 'innate' when describing a quality, such as un talento nato for a 'natural talent'.
- The word nato shares the same ancient Indo-European root as the English word 'native', which is why both languages use similar sounds for concepts of birth and origin.
- The term is used in the idiom nato per comandare, which describes someone who is a 'natural born leader'.
Examples in context
- È nato a Roma.He was born in Rome.This sentence is useful for stating where someone was born using nato.Tatoeba #3149586 by Guybrush88, translation #3149585 by CN
- Tom è nato lì.Tom was born there.This sentence is useful for stating where Tom was born using nato.Tatoeba #6070275 by Guybrush88, translation #4495951 by CK
- È nato a Osaka.He was born in Osaka.Tatoeba #374453 by Pharamp, translation #301284 by CN
- Sono nato a Roma.I was born in Rome.
- Sono nata nel quartiere Trastevere.I was born in the Trastevere neighborhood.
- Sono nato a Milano.I was born in Milan.
- 383 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Matteo are talking about their family history.
- SofiaQuando è nato tuo fratello?When was your brother born?
- MatteoÈ nato due anni fa.He was born two years ago.
- SofiaChe bello! È nato in Italia?How lovely! Was he born in Italy?
- MatteoSì, è nato a Milano.Yes, he was born in Milan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “born” translations and entries nato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nato, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
