Nationalities in Italian

When you start speaking Italian, one of the first questions you are likely to hear from native speakers is about your background: Where are you from? or What are your origins? This is a common way for Italians to start a conversation and show interest in getting to know you. To answer these questions correctly, you need to be familiar with the vocabulary for countries, cities, and nationalities. In this guide, we will provide you with all the essential words and phrases, as well as examples of how to use them naturally in conversation. By the end of this section, you’ll feel confident introducing yourself and learning about others’ origins.

How to Ask Where Are You From?

The most common and straightforward way to ask someone where they are from in Italian is:

This is an informal question suitable for peers, friends, or people of a similar age. However, in Italian culture, showing respect is important, especially when speaking to older people, teachers, or strangers. In such cases, you should use the formal version:

Both questions expect a similar answer. You can respond by starting with Vengo da..., which means I come from…, followed by the name of the country with the appropriate definite article. This structure is polite and widely understood.

It’s important to note that in Italian, the preposition da often combines with the definite article, depending on the country’s gender and number. For example:

Another Way to Ask Where Are You From?

There is also an alternative way to ask the same question, which is slightly more direct and conversational. You can say:

When someone asks this question, you can answer using the verb sono (I am), followed by the nationality adjective. This is a simpler, more concise way to identify your origin without mentioning the country explicitly. For example:

Using nationality adjectives is especially useful when you want to keep your response short, or when you are in a social situation where the conversation moves quickly. This is a common practice in Italy, especially among young people meeting for the first time.

Countries and Nationalities

In Italian, adjectives that describe nationalities follow the standard rules for adjective agreement. This means they change depending on the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun they describe. Learning these forms will allow you to describe yourself and others accurately in any conversation.

Francese – French
Forms: francese (masculine/feminine singular), francesi (plural)
Example: Lei è una ragazza francese.
Translation: She is a French woman.

Tedesco – German
Forms: tedesco (masculine singular), tedesca (feminine singular), tedeschi (masculine plural), tedesche (feminine plural)
Example: Lui è tedesco.
Translation: He is German.

If you haven’t yet mastered how to conjugate adjectives in Italian, it is highly recommended to review that topic. Proper adjective agreement will make your speech sound more natural and fluent.

List of Countries and Nationalities

Below, you’ll find a helpful chart that lists some of the most commonly referenced countries in the world, along with their corresponding nationality adjectives. Each word is clickable so you can listen to the correct pronunciation, which is an excellent way to improve your speaking and listening skills. By practicing these words, you will be able to confidently introduce yourself and ask others about their origins in a wide variety of social settings.