Giovanni
/d͡ʒoˈvan.ni/masculine
The English name John is translated into Italian as Giovanni.
Giovanni is the standard masculine given name used to translate the name John.
Meaning: male given name (name)
Which one should you use?
Giovanni is the standard form of the name. Gianni is a common diminutive or nickname, while Nanni is another nickname that is slightly more old-fashioned or regional.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Nanni is a nickname that is often used in certain regions.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /dʒoˈvan.ni/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the name Giovanni is frequently combined with other names to create a single name, such as Gianluca or Gianmaria, where Gian is a shortened form of Giovanni.
- The name Giovanni derives from the Latin Iōhannēs, which comes from the Ancient Greek Ἰωάννης and ultimately from the Biblical Hebrew Yôḥānān, meaning 'Yahweh is gracious'.
- The nickname Gianni is so popular that it has become a formal given name in its own right in Italy.
Examples in context
- Sia Tommaso che Maria volevano andare a Boston con Giovanni.Tom and Mary both wanted to go to Boston with John.This sentence demonstrates how to use Giovanni in a context involving other people.Tatoeba #5224997 by matsuteo, translation #5224387 by CK
- Giovanni è un amico molto simpatico.Giovanni is a very nice friend.
- Ho incontrato Giovanni al supermercato ieri.I met Giovanni at the supermarket yesterday.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are discussing a mutual friend at a café.
- ChiaraHai sentito di Giovanni?Have you heard about Giovanni?
- FrancescoNo, che cosa è successo?No, what happened?
- ChiaraHa cambiato lavoro la scorsa settimana.He changed jobs last week.
- FrancescoDavvero? Che bella notizia!Really? That's great news!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “john” translations and entries Giovanni, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Giovanni, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
