mio padre
/ˈmi.o ˈpa.dre/word by word
The English phrase "my dad" is translated into Italian as mio padre.
The phrase is used to refer to the male parent of the speaker.
Which one should you use?
While mio padre is the standard way to say "my father" or "my dad", the phrase il mio papà is a more affectionate and informal term similar to "my daddy" or a more casual "my dad". Additionally, Babbo is an informal term for "dad" that carries a level of affection similar to papà.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, Italian does not use a definite article (the) before possessive adjectives when referring to singular, unmodified family members like padre. Therefore, you say mio padre rather than il mio padre.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈmi.o ˈpa.dre/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The term Babbo is also famously associated with 'Babbo Natale', the Italian name for Santa Claus.
- The word padre is also used in a non-familial sense to mean 'godfather' or 'priest', depending on the religious context.
- If you use the word papà instead of padre, you must add the definite article and say il mio papà. This is because the special rule omitting 'the' before possessives only applies to formal family terms.
Examples in context
- Mio padre mi ucciderà.My dad will kill me.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use mio padre in a sentence.Tatoeba #1704219 by Guybrush88, translation #1977711 by Spamster
- Mio padre non ti odia.My dad doesn't hate you.Tatoeba #3796680 by Guybrush88, translation #2473494 by Hybrid
- Mio padre è un avvocato.My dad is a lawyer.Tatoeba #13273826 by Guybrush88, translation #9160015 by CK
- Mio padre ama cucinare.My dad loves to cook.
- Il mio papà è una persona molto gentile.My dad is a very kind person.
- Mio papà è andato al lavoro.My dad went to work.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are talking about their families in a cafe.
- ChiaraMio padre è molto simpatico.My dad is very nice.
- FrancescoAnche mio padre è un uomo gentile.My dad is also a kind man.
- ChiaraTuo padre vive qui in città?Does your dad live here in the city?
- FrancescoNo, mio padre vive in montagna.No, my dad lives in the mountains.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (mio, padre) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
