Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tata | /ˈta.ta/ | feminine |
| bambinaia | /bam.biˈna.ja/ | feminine |
The term refers to a person who provides childcare. In modern Italian, it is the most common way to describe a nanny and carries a warm, affectionate tone.
Which one should you use?
tata is the most common and colloquial choice, while bambinaia serves as a more formal or traditional way to refer to a nanny or nursemaid.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In informal settings, tata is the standard term. For more formal contexts, you might use bambinaia for a nursemaid, Governante to imply a broader range of duties like a housekeeper or household manager or Assistente Familiare to mean a family assistant.
Is it said differently in some regions?
tata is widely understood across Italy, though it is often associated with colloquial or regional usage.
How does it change in a sentence?
tata is a feminine noun used to refer to a female nanny.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈta.ta/
Did you know?
- While tata is almost exclusively feminine, a male nanny is rarely called a tato and is instead referred to by more generic terms like baby sitter.
- The word tata is thought to originate from the Latin tata, a term used for a wet nurse or a nursemaid.
- While tata is a common way to address a nanny, it is also a common term of endearment used by children for their older sisters or even for certain aunts in some Italian dialects.
Examples in context
- Sono la tata di Tom.I'm Tom's nanny.This sentence is useful for introducing oneself as a nanny using tata.Tatoeba #3838546 by Guybrush88, translation #2235794 by CK
- La governante si prenderà cura dei nostri figli mentre siamo fuori.The nanny will take care of our children while we are away.
- La "tata" verrà a giocare con i bimbi mentre siamo fuori.The nanny will come and play with the kids while we are away.
- La tata è molto gentile.The nanny is very kind.
- Cerchiamo una tata per il bambino.We are looking for a nanny for the baby.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are discussing childcare at home.
- ChiaraHai chiamato la tata per domani?Did you call the nanny for tomorrow?
- FrancescoSì, viene alle nove di mattina.Yes, she is coming at nine in the morning.
- ChiaraOttimo, così possiamo uscire un momento.Great, that way we can go out for a moment.
- FrancescoLa nostra tata è davvero molto brava.Our nanny is really very good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nanny” translations and entries tata, bambinaia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bambinaia, tata, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
