Nationalities and Languages
Italy is a tourist destination for travelers the world over. Whether you arrive at one of Italy's international airports or catch a train at one of Italy's numerous train stations, you can expect to meet travelers from just about any country in the world. Talking about where you are from and asking where other people are from is a good way to practice your Italian. The following is a list of adjectives in the masculine form; see Chapter 2 for an explanation of how to form the feminine and plural endings.
-FACT
Adjectives denoting nationality are not capitalized in Italian. “I am American” is Sono americano, or Sono americana. Nouns denoting nationalities are capitalized in Italian — gli Italiani, gli Americani, i Cinesi, and so on.
I am … |
Sono … (SOH-noh …) |
African |
africano ah-free-KAH-noh |
American |
americano ah-meh-ree-KAH-no |
Australian |
australiano ouse-strahl-YAH-no |
Belgian |
belgo BEHL-goh |
Brazilian |
brasiliano brah-zeel-YAH-noh |
Canadian |
canadese kah-nah-DEH-say |
Chinese |
cinese chee-NEH-say |
Dutch |
olandese oh-lahn-DEH-say |
English |
inglese een-GLEH-say |
Egyptian |
egiziano eh-jits-YAH-noh |
European |
europeo eh-oo-roh-PEH-oh |
French |
francese frahn-CHEH-say |
German |
tedesco teh-DESS-koh |
Indian |
indiano een-dee-YAH-noh |
Irish |
irlandese eer-lahn-DAY-say |
Italian |
italiano ee-tahl-YAH-noh |
Japanese |
giapponese jahp-poh-NEH-say |
Mexican |
messicano meh-see-KAH-noh |
Moroccan |
marocchino mah-roh-KEE-noh |
New Zealander |
neozelandese nay-oh-zeh-lahn-DAY-say |
Polish |
polacco poh-LAHK-koh |
Portuguese |
portoghese pohr-toh-GAY-say |
Russian |
russo ROOS-soh |
Scottish |
scozzese skohts-ZAY-say |
Spanish |
spagnolo spahn-YOH-loh |
Swedish |
svedese sveh-DAY-say |
Swiss |
svizzero sveets-TSEH-roh |
