Meaning
brother
In a sentence
Mio fratello vive a Milano con due amici.
My brother lives in Milan with two friends.
Hai visto tuo fratello oggi al bar?
Did you see your brother today at the bar?
Mio fratello Paolo non è ancora arrivato.
My brother Paolo hasn't arrived yet.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| fratello | masculine · singular |
| fratelli | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Use 'fratello' for male siblings only; 'sorella' for female. 'Fratelli' can mean 'brothers' or 'siblings' (mixed group).
- Avoid 'mio fratello' for 'my brother' in casual speech; drop the possessive: 'Mio fratello è alto' → 'Il fratello è alto'.
- In religious contexts, 'fratello' is lowercase unless starting a sentence. Capitalize only for titles (e.g., Fratello Luca).