nonna
/ˈnɔn.na/
The English word "nan" is translated into Italian as nonna.
nonna is used to refer to a grandmother.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced /ˈnɔn.na/.
Did you know?
- It is common in Italy for grandchildren to refer to their grandmother as la nonna using the definite article, even when speaking directly to her.
- In Italy, the 'nonna' is often culturally viewed as the ultimate authority on traditional cooking and family recipes.
- In Italy, calling a woman nonna as a compliment can imply she is a wise, maternal figure, but using it with a stranger could be seen as a clumsy way to comment on her age.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, nonna. Come sta?Good morning, grandmother. How are you?
- Ciao, nonnina. Che bello vederti!Hi, nan. It's lovely to see you!
- La mia nonna cucina molto bene.My grandmother cooks very well.
- Ho comprato un regalo per la nonna.I bought a gift for grandmother.
- La nonna è una donna molto dolce.Grandmother is a very sweet woman.
Example conversation
Chiara and Lorenzo are talking about their weekend plans.
- ChiaraDove vai sabato?Where are you going on Saturday?
- LorenzoVado a pranzo da nonna.I'm going to nan's for lunch.
- ChiaraChe bello! Salutala per me.How lovely! Say hello to her for me.
- LorenzoSì, glielo dirò.Yes, I will tell her.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nonna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
