fratello
/fraˈtɛl.lo/masculine
The Italian word for brother is fratello.
fratello is a masculine noun used to refer to a male sibling. It is also used in the phrase fratello di fede to refer to a brother in faith or a fellow believer.
Meaning: male sibling (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Southern Italy, such as Sicily and Calabria, the word fratuzzo might be used as an affectionate nickname for a brother.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of fratello is fratelli. You can use fratello maggiore to specify an older brother. To refer to a little brother, use the diminutive form fratellino. Interestingly, the diminutive fratellina is used to mean a little sister, even though it is derived from a masculine root.
How do you pronounce it?
/fraˈtɛl.lo/. The word has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the plural fratelli is used to refer to a group of siblings regardless of gender, such as when saying 'I have two fratelli' even if one is a sister.
- English speakers might recognize a distant relative of fratello in the word 'brother', as both stem from the same Proto-Indo-European root.
- While fratello means 'brother', the word fratellanza is often used to describe a deep sense of solidarity or fellowship among people who are not related by blood.
Examples in context
- Io ho un fratello.I have one brother.This sentence is useful for stating that you have one fratello.Tatoeba #2214835 by Guybrush88, translation #256071 by CK
- È mio fratello lì.That is my brother there.This sentence is useful for identifying a fratello in a specific location.Tatoeba #13352137 by Guybrush88, translation #11177386 by SunnyMoon
- Tom è tuo fratello.Tom is your brother.This sentence is useful for identifying someone else's fratello.Tatoeba #2273717 by Guybrush88, translation #2273644 by CK
- Ho bisogno di parlare con mio fratello.I need to talk to my brother.
- Vado a giocare a calcio con mio fratellino.I'm going to play soccer with my little brother.
- 1676 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are looking at a family photo.
- MatteoChi è questo ragazzo nella foto?Who is this boy in the photo?
- GiuliaLui è mio fratello maggiore.He is my older brother.
- MatteoTuo fratello abita ancora qui?Does your brother still live here?
- GiuliaNo, ora vive a Roma.No, now he lives in Rome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries fratello, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
