Natale
/naˈta.le/
Natale is the Italian word for Christmas.
Natale refers to the annual holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. To express the idea of being at Christmas or during Christmas, you should use the preposition a before the word, forming a Natale. If you want to wish someone a Merry Christmas, the standard phrase is Buon Natale.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are referring to the holiday itself, Natale is used as a proper noun and should be capitalized. Additionally, the phrase Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi is a known proverb which translates to 'Christmas with family, Easter with whoever you want.'
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable: /naˈta.le/.
When do people say it?
In Italy, attending Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve is a known tradition called La Messa di Mezzanotte.
Did you know?
- While Natale usually means Christmas, as an adjective natale means 'natal' or 'relating to birth', such as in estratto natale for a birth certificate.
- In Italy, the Christmas season is often associated with the Panettone or Pandoro, cakes so culturally central that they define the taste of Natale more than any other food.
- The word Natale shares the same Latin root as the English word 'natal', used in terms like 'prenatal' or 'postnatal' to describe things relating to birth.
Examples in context
- Mi piace molto l'atmosfera di Natale.I really like the Christmas atmosphere.
- Cosa regalerai a Natale?What will you give for Christmas?
- Abbiamo decorato l'albero per Natale.We decorated the tree for Christmas.
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are talking about their upcoming holiday plans.
- SofiaHai già comprato i regali di Natale?Have you already bought the Christmas presents?
- LorenzoNo, non ho ancora fatto nulla.No, I haven't done anything yet.
- SofiaAllora dobbiamo andare in centro oggi.Then we have to go downtown today.
- LorenzoHai ragione, andiamo subito.You're right, let's go right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Natale, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Natale, natale, CC BY-SA 4.0.
