zia
/ˈd͡zi.a/
The Italian word zia means aunt.
zia refers to the sister of one's father or mother, or the wife of one's uncle. It is the most standard and universally understood way to address your aunt in Italian.
How does it change in a sentence?
zia is a feminine singular noun. To refer to more than one aunt, use the plural form zie. If you are referring to a male uncle, use the masculine form zio.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdzi.a/. The word has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word zia shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'theology', as both stem from the Greek word for 'divine' or 'god'.
- In some southern Italian dialects, a woman might be called zia by a child even if there is no blood relation, purely as a mark of respect for an older woman.
- In Italian, the word zio can be used as a slang term similar to 'dude' or 'pal' among young people, though this usage is rarely mirrored with the feminine zia.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, zia!Good morning, aunt!
- Zia Maria, posso chiederti un favore?Aunt Maria, can I ask you a favor?
- Zia, mi manchi tanto!Aunt, I miss you so much!
- Cara zia, ti auguro un felice compleanno!Dear aunt, I wish you a happy birthday!
- Mia zia vive a Roma.My aunt lives in Rome.
- Ho comprato un regalo per mia zia.I bought a gift for my aunt.
- Tua zia è molto simpatica.Your aunt is very nice.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Giulia are talking about a family gathering.
- AlessandroVieni alla festa con tua zia?Are you coming to the party with your aunt?
- GiuliaSì, mia zia viene sicuramente.Yes, my aunt is definitely coming.
- AlessandroChe bello, la vedremo oggi.How nice, we will see her today.
- GiuliaSì, è molto contenta di vederti.Yes, she is very happy to see you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry zia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries zia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
