Italian Genealogical Word List

Italy Genealogical Word List

Genealogical Word List
This list contains Italian words with their English translations. The words included here are those that you are likely to find in genealogical sources. If the word you are looking for is not on this list, please consult an Italian-English dictionary. (See the “Additional Resources” section.)

Italian is a Romance language derived from Latin. Many of the words resemble those of Latin. See Latin Genealogical Word List (34077). Italian is spoken in Italy and the southern part of Switzerland in the cantons of Ticino and Graubünden. Italian is also spoken in Yugoslavia near the border with Trieste. Some of the records of Corsica, Nice, and Savoy were written in Italian before those areas became part of France. Clusters of Italian immigrants in major cities like New York, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, and Melbourne also speak Italian. Sicilian, Neapolitan, Romanesque, and Venetian are major dialects of Italian, and they use words similar to the words on this list. Several other minor dialects are spoken in the various provinces of Italy.

Language Characteristics
In Italian, the endings of most words vary according to the way the words are used in a sentence. Who— whose—whom or marry—marries—married are examples of words in English with variant forms. This word list gives the most commonly seen form of each Italian word. As you read Italian records, be aware that almost all words vary with usage. Only some variations are explained in this guide.

Gender.
Italian nouns are designated as masculine or feminine. For example, vicinanza (neighborhood) is a feminine word, and villaggio (village) is a masculine word. Generally, nouns ending in !a are feminine, nouns ending !e may be either masculine or feminine, and nouns ending in !o are masculine. Adjectives and articles (a, an, the) will have either masculine or feminine endings for the noun they modify: !a for feminine singular nouns, !o for masculine singular nouns. For example, in Italian you write ava paterna (paternal grandmother) or avo paterno (paternal grandfather).

Plurals.
For nouns ending with !a, the plural is formed by replacing the last letter with !e; for nouns ending in !o or !e, replace the last letter with !i to form the plural. For example, figlia (daughter) becomes figlie (daughters), and padrino (godfather) becomes padrini (godparents). Articles and adjectives take e as the feminine plural ending, and i as the masculine plural ending. Buona figlia becomes buone figlie (good daughters) and buono padrino becomes buoni padrini (good godparents).

Verb tense.
Verbs also vary depending on mood, who is acting, and whether the action is in the past, present, or future. For example, the Italian verb sposare (to marry) could appear with various endings: Present - Past Tenses marry married, was married (she/he) sposa è sposato, fu sposato, sposò (they) sposano sono sposati, furono sposati, sposarono

Diacritic Marks
The Italian language has several additional letters with diacritic marks: à, è, ì, ò, and ù. These diacritic marks indicate a change in pronunciation, but do not affect alphabetical order. They are more often used in recent documents.

Spelling
Spelling rules were not fixed in earlier centuries when records of our ancestors were written. The k, j, and w are only used in foreign words. The following spelling variations may be found:


 * y or j used for i
 * i used for j

Additional Resources
This word list includes words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use an Italian- English dictionary. At the Family History Library, the Italian dictionaries are cataloged with the call number 453.21. The following dictionary is also available on microfilm for use in family history centers:


 * Orlandi, Giusseppe. Dizionario Italiano-inglese, Inglese-italiano [Italian-English, English-italian Dictionary]. Milano: Carlo Signorelli, 1957. (FHL film 1181660 item 5.)

Key Words
To find and use specific types of Italian records, you will need to know some key words in Italian. This section gives key genealogical terms in English and the Italian words with the same or similar meanings. For example, in the first column you will find the English word marriage. In the second column you will find Italian words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, and other words used in Italian records to indicate marriage.

English - Italian


 * banns - pubblicazioni, notificazioni
 * baptism(s) - battesimo, -i
 * birth(s) - nata, nascita, -e
 * burial(s) - seppellimento, sepolto, sepolture, -i
 * child - neonato, neonata, infante, bambino
 * christening(s) - battesimo, -i
 * confirmation(s) - cresima, -e
 * death(s) - morte, morire, decesso, -i
 * father - padre
 * husband - marito, sposo
 * index - indice
 * marriage(s) - matrimono, sposato, coniugato, maritato, -i
 * month - mese
 * mother - madre
 * name - nome
 * parents - genitori
 * parish - parrocchia
 * surname - cognome
 * wife - sposa, moglie
 * year - anno

General Word List
This general word list includes words commonly seen in genealogical sources. Numbers, months, and days of the week are listed both here and in separate sections that follow this list.

In this list, optional versions of Italian words or variable endings (such as some plural or feminine endings) are given after a hyphen. Parentheses in the English column clarify the definition. In Italian, some words have both a male and female form, such as:

Italian - English


 * neonato - male child
 * neonata - female child

When a word has both a male and female version, this word list gives the feminine ending of words after a hyphen, such as:

Italian - English


 * neonato, -a - male child, female child
 * cognato, -a - brother-in-law, sister-in-law
 * cugino, -a - male cousin, female cousin
 * † = morto, -a - died

Numbers
In some genealogical records, numbers are spelled out. This is especially true with dates. The following list gives the cardinal (for example, 1, 2, 3) and the ordinal (for example, 1st, 2nd, 3rd) versions of each number. Days of the month are usually written in cardinal form. Note that all ordinal numbers are adjectives and will end with; o or a depending on the gender of the word it modifies.

Number / Cardinal / Ordinal


 * 1 uno 1st primo, -a
 * 2 due 2nd secondo, -a
 * 3 tre 3rd terzo, -a
 * 4 quattro 4th quarto, -a
 * 5 cinque 5th quinto, -a
 * 6 sei 6th sesto, -a
 * 7 sette 7th settimo, -a
 * 8 otto 8th ottavo, -a
 * 9 nove 9th nono, -a
 * 10 dieci 10th decimo, -a
 * 11 undici 11th undicesimo, -a
 * 12 dodici 12th dodicesimo, -a
 * 13 tredici 13th tredicesimo, -a
 * 14 quattordici 14th quattordicesimo, -a
 * 15 quindici 15th quindicesimo, -a
 * 16 sedici 16th sedicesimo, -a
 * 17 diciassette 17th diciassettesimo, -a
 * 18 diciotto 18th diciottesimo, -a
 * 19 diciannove 19th diciannovesimo, -a
 * 20 venti 20th ventesimo, -a
 * 21 ventuno 21st ventunesimo, -a
 * 22 ventidue 22nd ventiduesimo, -a
 * 23 ventitre 23rd ventitreesimo, -a
 * 24 ventiquattro 24th ventiquattresimo, -a
 * 25 venticinque 25th venticinquesimo, -a
 * 26 ventisei 26th ventiseiesimo, -a
 * 27 ventisette 27th ventisettesimo, -a
 * 28 ventotto 28th ventottesimo, -a
 * 29 ventinove 29th ventinovesimo, -a
 * 30 trenta 30th trentesimo, -a
 * 31 trentuno 31st trentunesimo, -a
 * 40 quaranta 40th quarantesimo, -a
 * 50 cinquanta 50th cinquantesimo, -a
 * 60 sessanta 60th sessantesimo, -a
 * 70 settanta 70th settantesimo, -a
 * 80 ottanta 80th ottantesimo, -a
 * 90 novanta 90th novantesimo, -a
 * 100 cento 100th centesimo, -a
 * 200 duecento 200th duecentesimo, -a
 * 1000 mille 1000th millesimo, -a

Dates and Time
In Italian records, the registrar often indicated the exact time of day when an event occurred. This is generally written out, for example:


 * L’anno del Signore milleottocentocinquantasette ed alli undici del mese di gennaio alle ore sei della mattina (In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred fifty-seven on the eleventh of the month of January at six o’clock in the morning)

To understand Italian dates, use the following lists as well as the preceding “Numbers” section.

Months
English - Italian


 * January - gennaio
 * February - febbraio
 * March - marzo
 * April - aprile
 * May - maggio
 * June - giugno
 * July - luglio
 * August - agosto
 * September - settembre
 * October - ottobre
 * November - novembre
 * December - dicembre

Days of the Week
English - Italian


 * Sunday - domenica
 * Monday - lunedì
 * Tuesday - martedì
 * Wednesday - mercoledì
 * Thursday - giovedì
 * Friday - venerdì
 * Saturday - sabato

Times of the Day
Italian birth and death records often indicated the exact time of day when the birth or death occurred. This is usually written out.

English - Italian


 * afternoon - pomeriggio
 * at the 16th hour - alle ore sedici ;eg:(4:00 P.M.)
 * before noon - ante meridiane
 * day - giorno
 * evening - sera
 * hour - ora
 * midday - mezzogiorno
 * midnight - mezzanotte
 * month - mese
 * monthly - mensile
 * morning - mattina
 * night - notte
 * of the month of - del mese di
 * on the day - addì
 * year - anno
 * yesterday - ieri
 * yesterday evening - iersera
 * yesterday morning - iermattina

= Alphabetical =

The following list first shows the Italian word followed by the English word.

A

 * a - at, to
 * abbiamo - we have
 * abbiente - owner
 * abbracciatutto - jack-of-all-trades
 * abiatico - grandson
 * abitante - inhabitant
 * abitare - to live
 * abitazione - home, residence
 * a cagione di - because of
 * a casa - at home
 * accanto - beside
 * accusato - accused, charged
 * addì - on the day
 * adesso - now
 * adottato, -a - adopted
 * adultero, -a - adulterer
 * affinità - relationship
 * affittuario, -a - renter, tenant
 * agente - agent
 * agosto - August
 * agricoltore - farmer
 * albergatore - innkeeper
 * albero genealogico - pedigree
 * alcuni, -e - some
 * alcuno, -a - any, some
 * alias - alias, also known as
 * alla nascita - time of birth
 * allegati - supplements
 * alle ore - at the hour
 * allevatore - animal feeder
 * allora - then
 * all’uopo - to this end
 * almeno - at least
 * alto - high
 * altresì - also, too
 * altre volte - formerly
 * altro - other, else
 * ambedue - both
 * amico, -a - friend
 * amministratore - steward, manager
 * amministrazione - administration
 * amogliato - took a wife
 * anche - also
 * ancora - yet, still
 * andiamo - right away, immediately
 * anime - parish census
 * annegato - drowned
 * anni - years
 * anniversariov anniversary
 * anno - year
 * annotazioni - annotations
 * annuale - annual, yearly
 * antenato, -i - ancestor(s)
 * anzidetta - aforesaid
 * anzitutto - first of all, initially
 * appartenenza religiosa - religious affiliation
 * appartienev - pertains
 * appena - as soon as
 * apprendista - apprentice
 * appresso - after, the next
 * aprile - April
 * araldica - heraldry
 * aratore - plowman
 * archivi - archives
 * archivi di stato - state archives
 * arrivo - arrival, immigration
 * artefice - maker
 * ascesso - abscess
 * asma - asthma
 * assessore comunale - alderman
 * attacco - seizure
 * attesa - awaiting
 * atti diversi - miscellaneous records
 * atto di matrimonio - marriage certificate
 * atto di morte - death certificate
 * atto di nascita - birth certificate
 * austriaco - Austrian
 * ava materna - maternal grandmother
 * avanti di - before
 * ava paterna - paternal grandmother
 * avere - to have
 * avi - ancestors
 * avo - ancestor
 * avo materno - maternal grandfather
 * avo paterno - paternal grandfather
 * avoro, -a - grandfather (grandmother)
 * avvocato - lawyer

B

 * babbo - father
 * bambina illegittima - illegitimate girl
 * bambini - children
 * bambino, -a - child, baby
 * bambino illegittimo - illegitimate boy
 * banchiere - banker
 * bandi di matrimonio - marriage banns, notices
 * barbiere - barber
 * barca, fabbricatore di - boat maker
 * barcaiolo - boatman
 * barilaio - cooper, barrel maker
 * barista - bartender
 * barone - baron
 * basso - low
 * bastardo, -a - illegitimate child
 * battesimale - baptismal
 * battesimo - baptism
 * battezzare - baptize
 * battezzarono they - baptized
 * battezzato, -a - baptized
 * battezzo - baptized
 * beccaio - butcher
 * beccamorti - grave digger
 * becchino - grave digger
 * benché - although
 * benestante - wealthy person
 * beni immobili - real property, real estate
 * beni stabili - real property, real estate
 * bettoliere - tavern keeper
 * bianco - white
 * biblioteche - libraries
 * bidello - janitor
 * bifolco - plowman
 * biografia - biography
 * birraio - barkeeper, brewer
 * bisavo, -a - great-grandfather (greatgrandmother)
 * bisavolo, -a - great-grandfather (greatgrandmother)
 * bis-bisnonno - second great-grandfather
 * bisnonna - great-grandmother
 * bisnonno - great-grandfather
 * boaro - cattle hand
 * borghese - burgher, citizen
 * bottaio - cooper, barrel maker
 * bottegaio - shopkeeper
 * bovaro - cattle driver
 * bracciale - laborer
 * bracciante - farm laborer
 * bucataia - washwoman
 * buio - dark
 * buono, -a - good
 * burraio - dairyman

C

 * cacciatore - hunter
 * caduto - fallen
 * cafone - peasant
 * calderaio - tinker
 * calzolaio - shoemaker
 * cameriera - maid, servant girl
 * cameriere - waiter
 * cameriere di casa - house steward
 * campagna - countryside, rural
 * campagnuolo, -a - countryman, countrywoman
 * cancro - cancer
 * cantante - singer (male)
 * cantatrice - singer (female)
 * capofamiglia - family head
 * capostipite  -family founder, earliest ancestor
 * cappellaio - hatter
 * carabiniere - policeman
 * carbonaio - coal dealer
 * carraio - wheelwright
 * carte - maps, charts
 * casa - house
 * casaro - dairy farmer
 * cassa - chest, cash, cashier
 * cassetta - chest
 * castaldo - land agent
 * castello - castle
 * catasto - land register
 * cattolico, -a - Roman Catholic
 * cavaliere - knight
 * ce - us
 * celebrare il matrimonio - solemnize a marriage
 * celibe - bachelor, bachelorette, single, unmarried
 * censimento - census
 * centesimo, -a - hundredth
 * cento - hundred
 * certificato - certificate
 * certifichiamo - we certify
 * cfr. = confronta - compare
 * che - which, than, what, who, that, whom
 * chi - who, whom
 * chiesa - church
 * chiesa ortodossa - Greek Catholic
 * chilometro - kilometer
 * chimico - chemist
 * chirurgo - surgeon
 * chiunque - whoever
 * ci - there, us, to us
 * ciabattino - cobbler
 * cimitero - cemetery
 * cinquanta - fifty
 * cinquantesimo, -a - fiftieth
 * cinque - five
 * ciò - that
 * cioè - that is, namely
 * circa - about, approximately
 * città - city, town
 * cittadinanze - citizenship
 * cittadino, -a - citizen
 * c. m. - [corrente mese] current month
 * cocchiere - coachman
 * cognato, -a - brother-in-law, sister-in-law
 * cognome, -i - surname(s)
 * col consenso - with the consent
 * colera - cholera
 * collina - hill
 * colono - farmer, colonist
 * coltivatore - cultivator, farmer
 * come - as, like, how
 * come sopra - as above
 * commerciante di vino - wine merchant
 * commissionario - broker
 * compenso - fee
 * comprare - to buy
 * comune - municipality
 * comunione - communion
 * comunità - community, township
 * con - with
 * conciatore - tanner
 * concubina - concubine
 * condizione - status, condition
 * conducente - driver
 * confermazione - confirmation
 * confettiere - confectioner
 * congiunto - related
 * coniugati - married
 * coniugi - married couple
 * connessione - relationship
 * consenso - consent
 * conservato - preserved
 * consigliere - counselor
 * contabile - accountant
 * contadino, -a - farm laborer, peasant
 * conte - count, earl
 * contea - county
 * conto - account, bill
 * contrada - town quarter
 * contratto di matrimonio - marriage contract
 * contro - against
 *  conversione - conversion
 * convivente - cohabitant
 * convulsione,-i - convulsion(s)
 * copie civili di registri parrocchiali - parish register transcripts
 * cordaio - rope maker
 * corrente - current
 * corriere - courier
 * corte - court
 * così - thus, so
 * costruttore - builder
 * cresima - confirmation
 * cresimato, -i - confirmee(s)
 * cristiano, -a - Christian (or Catholic)
 * croato - Croat
 * cucitrice - seamstress
 * cugino, -a - cousin
 * cuoco - cook
 * cuore - heart

D

 * d. = don - respectful male title
 * da - from, of
 * dagli - from the (plural)
 * dal - from the
 * dalla - from the
 * dalle - from the (plural)
 * dallo - from the
 * danaro - money
 * data - date
 * debolezza della vecchiaia - weakness of old age
 * decennale - decennial
 * decennio - decade
 * decesso, -a - deceased, late
 * decimo, -a - tenth
 * defunto, -a - deceased person
 * degli - of the
 * degno - worthy
 * dei - of the, from the (plural)
 * del - of the
 * della - of the
 * delle - of the (plural), some
 * dello - of the
 * del mese di - of the month of
 * denaro - money
 * dentizione - teething
 * descrizione - description
 * destra - right (direction)
 * d’età di - of the age of
 * detto - said, alias, also known as
 * di - of, about, concerning
 * di anni - age
 * diarrea - diarrhea
 * di buon’ora - early (A.M.)
 * dicembre - December
 * dichiarante - informant
 * dichiarare - to declare
 * dichiarato che - declared that
 * dichiarazione - declaration
 * diciannove - nineteen
 * diciannovesimo, -a - nineteenth
 * diciassette - seventeen
 * diciassettesimo, -a - seventeenth
 * diciottesimo, -a - eighteenth
 * diciotto - eighteen
 * dieci - ten
 * dietro - behind
 * dietro scritto - after signed
 * difterite - diphtheria
 * di ieri - yesterday’s
 * di mattina - in the morning
 * diocesi - diocese
 * di pomeriggio - in the afternoon
 * discendente - descendant
 * di sera - in the evening
 * disopra - above
 * di sotto - below
 * dispensa di matrimonio - marriage license
 * disposto - disposed
 * dissenteria - dysentery
 * disteso - extended
 * distretto di - district of
 * diventare - become
 * diversi - miscellaneous
 * divorziare - divorce (verb)
 * divorzio - divorce (noun)
 * dizionari geografici - gazetteers
 * dizionario - dictionary
 * documenti - records
 * documenti d’emigrazione - emigration records
 * documento - record
 * dodicesimo, -a - twelfth
 * dodici - twelve
 * doganiere, doganieri - customs officer(s)
 * domani - tomorrow
 * domenica - Sunday
 * domestica - housekeeper
 * domiciliato - residing
 * don - respectful man’s title
 * donazione - donation
 * donna - respectful woman’s title
 * donna di casa - housewife
 * dono - donation, gift
 * dopo - after
 * dopodomani - day after tomorrow
 * doppio - duplicate record
 * dottore - doctor
 * dove - where
 * dov’è? - where is?
 * droghiere - druggist, grocer
 * duca - duke
 * ducato - duchy
 * duchessa - duchess
 * due - two
 * duecentesimo, -a - two hundredth
 * duecento - two hundred
 * dunque - therefore
 * duplicato - duplicate record
 * durante - during

E

 * e, ed - and
 * è - is
 * ebanista - cabinetmaker
 * ebreo, -a - Jew, Jewess, Jewish
 * eccetto - except
 * ecco - here is, here are, there is, there are
 * è comparso, -a - appeared
 * ed, e - and
 * egli - he
 * elenco - list, directory
 * elenco dei membri - membership list
 * ella - she
 * ella stessa - herself
 * emigrante - emigrant
 * emigrazione - emigration
 * è morto - died
 * è nato - was born
 * enfiagione - swelling
 * ép. = é sposato - married
 * epilessia - epilepsy
 * eppure - yet, nevertheless
 * erbivendolo - green grocer
 * eseguito, -a - executed (a marriage)
 * essa - she, it, her, this, that
 * esse - they, them
 * essendo - being, acting as
 * essere - to be
 * essi - they, them
 * esso - it
 * esso stesso - itself
 * est - east
 * è stato celebrato - was celebrated
 * è stato presentato - was presented
 * esterno - outside
 * estratto - extract
 * estrema unzione - last rites
 * età - age
 * evento - event

F

 * fa - ago
 * fabbricante - manufacturer
 * fabbricante di tessuto - cloth maker, draper
 * fabbro - smith
 * factotum - handyman
 * falegname - joiner, carpenter
 * famiglia - family
 * fanciulla - maiden, young girl
 * fanciullo - young boy
 * fante - foot soldier
 * fatta, -o - done, made
 * fattore - farmer, creator, maker
 * febbraio - February
 * febbre - fever
 * fede di nascita - birth certificate
 * femmina - female
 * femminile - feminine
 * femminino - femininity
 * ferraio - blacksmith
 * feudo - fief, manor
 * fiacchezza - weakness
 * fidanzamento - betrothal, engagement to marry
 * fidanzarsi - to become engaged
 * fidanzata - fiancée (female)
 * fidanzato - fiancé (male)
 * fidanzato - betrothed, engaged
 * figli - children
 * figlia di - daughter of
 * figliastro, -a - stepchild
 * figlioccio, -a - godchild
 * figlio di - son of
 * filatore - spinner
 * filatrice - spinner
 * fioraio - florist
 * firma di - signature of
 * firmato - signed
 * fittaiolo - tenant farmer
 * fiume - river
 * foresta - forest
 * forestiero - foreigner, alien
 * fornaio - baker
 * forse - perhaps, maybe
 * fortezza - fortress
 * fosse - was
 * fra - between, among
 * francese - French
 * fratellastro - half brother
 * fratello - brother
 * frazione - hamlet
 * frontiera - border
 * fruttaiolo - fruit dealer
 * fruttivendolo - fruit merchant
 * fu - late, deceased, was
 * fu battezzato - was baptized
 * fu cresimato - was confirmed
 * funzione di membro - membership list
 * fuori - out
 * furono - were
 * futuro - future

G

 * gemelli - twins
 * gemello, -a - twin
 * gendarme - policeman
 * genealogia - genealogy
 * generato - born
 * genitora, -e - mother(s)
 * genitore, -i - father(s)
 * genitori - fathers or parents
 * genitori ignoti - parents unknown
 * gennaio - January
 * gente per bene - gentry
 * già - already
 * giacchè - inasmuch as
 * giammai - never
 * giardiniere - gardener
 * gioielliere - jeweler
 * giornale - newspaper
 * giornaliero - day laborer
 * giorno - day
 * giovane - young
 * giovedì - Thursday
 * gioventù - youth
 * giovinezza - youth
 * giudaico - Jewish
 * giudice - judge
 * giugno - June
 * giurato - juror
 * gli, gl’ - the, to him
 * gotta - gout
 * grande - large, great
 * grosso, grande - big, great
 * guardaboschi - forester
 * guardia - guard
 * guardiano - watchman

H

 * ha - (s)he has, you have
 * ha contratto matrimonio - has contracted marriage
 * hanno - you have, they have

I

 * i, gli, le - the (plural)
 * idropisia - dropsy, edema
 * ieri - yesterday
 * ignoto - unknown
 * il, lo, la - the (feminine singular)
 * il deceduto - the deceased
 * il giorno di ieri - the previous day
 * il giorno prossimo - the following day
 * illegittimo - illegitimate
 * il loro - their (masculine singular)
 * i loro - their (masculine plural)
 * il (la) più vecchio, -a - oldest, eldest
 * il registro di tassa - tax ledger
 * imbianchino - plasterer
 * immigrante - immigrant
 * immigrazione - immigration
 * imperiale - royal, imperial
 * impero - empire
 * impiegato di tribunale - court clerk
 * impiegato d’ufficio - clerk
 * in - in
 * incinta - pregnant
 * incisore - engraver
 * indetto - held. When used following the Italian word for day or month, it means (the event happened) the same day or month the record was written.
 * indi - from there
 * indicati - indicated
 * indice - index
 * indici decennali - ten-year indexes
 * indietro - behind
 * indigente - indigent
 * inerenza - inheritance
 * infante - infant
 * ingegnere - engineer
 * inoltre - also, besides
 * in questo luogo - in this place
 * in questo posto - in this place
 * inquilino, -a - renter
 * insieme - together
 * intagliatore - wood carver
 * interno - interior
 * intorno - around
 * invece - instead
 * io - I
 * istesso (stesso) - same, self
 * italiano, -a - Italian
 * itterizia - jaundice
 * ivi - there

L

 * la - the, her, it, you
 * là - there
 * la decima, le decime - tithing
 * la loro - their (feminine singular)
 * lasciare - let, leave, allow
 * lascito - legacy, bequest
 * lavandaio - laundry worker
 * le - the, she (plural), to her,them
 * legale - legal
 * legato - legacy, bequest
 * legatore di libro - bookbinder
 * legge - law
 * legittimo - legitimate
 * lei - her, she, you (polite)
 * le loro - their (feminine plural)
 * l’età maggiore - of legal age
 * letto di morte - deathbed
 * leva - military draft
 * levatrice - midwife
 * lì - there
 * libero - free, unmarried
 * libri stirpe - lineage books
 * libro - book
 * licenza di matrimonio - marriage license
 * lo - the, him, it
 * località - locality
 * loro - they, their, theirs, them, you, your
 * lo stesso giorno - the same day
 * l’ufficio parrocchiale - parish office
 * luglio - July
 * lui - he, him
 * lunedì - Monday
 * luogo - place (location)
 * lustrascarpe - bootblack, shoeshine

M

 * m. = matrimonio - married
 * ma - but, however
 * macchinista - driver, machinist
 * macellaio - butcher
 * madre - mother
 * madre ignota - mother unknown
 * madrina - godmother
 * maestro, -a - schoolteacher
 * maggio - May (month of)
 * maggioranza - legal age, majority
 * maggiordomo - butler
 * maggiore - eldest
 * maggiorenne - to be of age
 * magistrato - judge
 * magnano - locksmith
 * mai - never
 * malattia - disease
 * mandriano - herdsman
 * manente - sharecropper
 * marina - navy
 * marinaio - marine, seaman, sailor
 * marito - husband
 * marmista - marble cutter
 * martedì - Tuesday
 * marzo - March (month of)
 * maschio - male, masculine
 * massaia - housewife
 * matrigna - stepmother
 * matrimoni - marriages
 * matrimonio - marriage
 * mattina - morning
 * mattonaio - brick maker
 * me - me
 * medesimi - same, alike, similar
 * membro - member
 * mendicante - beggar
 * mendico - beggar
 * mensile - monthly
 * mensuale - monthly
 * mercante - merchant, trader
 * mercato - market
 * mercoledì - Wednesday
 * mese - month
 * messaggero - courier, messenger
 * mestiere - trade, occupation
 * mezzanotte - midnight
 * mezzodì - midday
 * mezzogiorno - midday
 * mi - me, to me
 * miei - my, mine
 * miglio - mile
 * militare - military
 * mille - thousand
 * millesimo, -a - thousandth
 * minatore - miner
 * minoranza - not of legal age
 * mio - my, mine
 * modista - milliner, hat seller
 * moglie - wife
 * montagna - mountain
 * monte - mount, mountain
 * morbillo - measles
 * morì - died
 * morì di vecchiaia - died of old age
 * morire - to die
 * morì senza prole - died without issue
 * morte, -i - death(s)
 * morto, -a - dead, died, deceased, late
 * mt. = maternità - mother
 * mugnaio - miller
 * mulinaro - miller
 * mulino - mill
 * municipio - town hall
 * muratore - mason

N

 * n. = nato, -a - born
 * nacque - was born
 * nascita - birth
 * nata - born, maiden name
 * natamorta - stillborn female child
 * nativo di - native of
 * nato, -i - born (births)
 * nato morto - stillborn
 * natomorto - stillborn male child
 * nazionalità - nationality
 * necroforo - sexton
 * negli - in the (plural)
 * negoziante - dealer
 * nei - in the (plural)
 * nel - in the
 * nella - in the
 * nelle - in the (plural)
 * nello - in the
 * neonato, -a - newborn child, baby
 * nero, -a - black
 * nessuno - no, none, no one, nobody
 * niente - nothing
 * nipote - nephew, niece, grandchild
 * nipotina, nipote - granddaughter
 * nipotino, nipote - grandson
 * nobile - nobleman
 * nobiltà - nobility
 * noi - we, us
 * noi, da - by us
 * nome, -i - name(s)
 * nome assunto - alias, also known as
 * nome di battesimo - Christian name, given name
 * nome proprio - Christian name, given name
 * nomi - names
 * nominare - to name
 * nominato - named
 * non - not
 * non ancora - not yet
 * nonna - grandmother
 * nonni - grandparents, ancestors
 * nonno - grandfather
 * nono, -a - ninth
 * nota - remark
 * notaio - notary
 * notamento - account, notably
 * notificazioni - marriage banns, notices
 * notte - night
 * novanta - ninety
 * novantesimo, -a - ninetieth
 * nove - nine
 * novello - new
 * novembre - November
 * nozze - wedding
 * nubile - unmarried woman
 * numero - number
 * nuovo - new
 * nutrice - nurse

O

 * o - or
 * occidentale - western
 * occupazione - occupation
 * odierno - today’s
 * oggi - today
 * ogni - each, every
 * oltre - in addition
 * onde - from where
 * onesto - honest
 * operaio - laborer
 * operaio avventizio - journeyman
 * oppure - or, otherwise
 * ora - hour
 * orciolaio - potter
 * orefice - goldsmith
 * orfano, -a - orphan
 * orientale - eastern
 * orologiaio - watchmaker
 * oste - innkeeper, wine store keeper
 * ostetrico, -a - obstetrician, midwife
 * ottanta - eighty
 * ottantesimo, -a - eightieth
 * ottavo, -a - eighth
 * otto - eight
 * ottobre - October
 * ovest - west

P

 * padre, -i - father(s)
 * padre ignoto - father unknown
 * padrini - godparents
 * padrino - godfather
 * padrone - landlord
 * paesano - peasant
 * paese - country, village, state
 * pag. = pagina - page
 * pagina - page
 * parente - relative
 * parrocchia - parish
 * parroco - priest
 * parziali - partial
 * passaporto - passport
 * passato - past
 * pastaio - pasta maker
 * pasticciere - pastry maker
 * pastore - minister, pastor, shepherd
 * patria - country, town, or place of birth, fatherland
 * patrigno - stepfather
 * pecoraio - shepherd
 * pensionato, -a - formerly employed, retired
 * per - for, through, by
 * per causa di - because of, motive, reason
 * perchè - why
 * periodici - periodicals
 * periodo - period of time
 * permesso - permission
 * però - however
 * pescatore - fisher, fisherman
 * pescivendolo - fishmonger
 * peste - plague
 * piccolo - little, small
 * piccolo proprietario di terra - small land holder
 * piroscafo - ship
 * pittore - painter
 * più - more
 * più piccolo - lesser, smaller
 * più recente - more recent, later
 * più vecchio, -a - older, elder
 * poi - after, then
 * poichè - since
 * poliziotto - policeman
 * polmonite - pneumonia
 * pomeriggio - afternoon
 * popolazione - population
 * porre - place, put, impose
 * portalettere - mailman
 * possidente - property owner
 * precedente - former
 * prefetto - prefect
 * prefettura - prefecture
 * prenome - given name
 * presentato - presented
 * presenza di - in presence of
 * presto - early (A.M.)
 * prete - priest, clergyman
 * previo - previous, preceding
 * primo, -a - first, before
 * primo assessore - mayor’s assistant
 * principato - principality
 * principe - prince
 * principessa - princess
 * proavi - ancestors
 * pro avo al terzo grado - third great-grandfather
 * processetti - marriage supplement
 * matrimoniali - documents
 * professione - profession
 * progenitori - ancestors, grandparents
 * proietti - foundlings
 * pronipote - great-grandchild
 * proprietario - landlord
 * prossimo - next
 * prostituta - whore, prostitute
 * protestante - Protestant
 * prova - proof
 * provincia - province
 * provinciale - provincial
 * prozio, -a - great-uncle (great-aunt)
 * pt. = paternità - father
 * pubblicare - publish
 * pubblicazioni - publications (marriage banns)
 * pure - also
 * puttana - prostitute, whore

Q

 * qua - here
 * quale - what, which, who
 * quando - when
 * quaranta - forty
 * quarantesimo, -a - fortieth
 * quarto, -a - fourth
 * quattordicesimo, -a - fourteenth
 * quattordici - fourteen
 * quattro - four
 * quei - those
 * quel - that
 * questa, -o - this
 * quest’oggi - this day
 * questo luogo - this place
 * questo posto - this place
 * questura - police station
 * qui - in this place
 * quindicesimo, -a - fifteenth
 * quindici - fifteen
 * quinto, -a - fifth
 * quivi - there

R

 * rada - bay, nautical course
 * ragazzo, -a - boy (girl)
 * re - king
 * reale - royal
 * regina - queen
 * regione - region
 * registri - registers
 * registri matrimoniali - marriage records
 * registri parrocchiali - parish registers
 * registro - register
 * registro parrocchiale - parish register
 * regno - kingdom
 * relativo, -i - relative(s)
 * religione - religion
 * restare - left, remaining
 * ricerca genealogica - genealogical research
 * ricevere - received
 * richiesta - request
 * richiesto - requested
 * ricordo - record
 * rimessa - removed
 * rimesso - submitted
 * ritiro - retirement
 * riti ultimi - last rites
 * riveli - tax lists, declarations
 * rosolia - German measles
 * rosso - red
 * rubriche - directories
 * ruoli matricolari - matriculation rolls

S

 * sabato - Saturday
 * sacerdote - priest
 * salasso - bleeding, bloodletting
 * saponaio, -a - soap maker
 * sarto, -a - tailor, seamstress
 * scapolo - bachelor
 * scarlattina - scarlet fever
 * scheda d’emigrazione - emigration file
 * schedario - card index
 * schede - index cards
 * scriba - scribe
 * scultore - sculptor
 * scuola - school
 * se - if, whether
 * sè - himself, herself, itself, oneself, themselves
 * secolo - century
 * secondo - according to
 * secondo, -a - second
 * sedicesimo, -a - sixteenth
 * sedici - sixteen
 * seguente - following
 * sei - six
 * sempre - still (adverb)
 * senza - without
 * sepolto - buried
 * sepoltura - burial, interment
 * seppellimento - burial
 * sera - evening
 * serva - maid, servant girl
 * servizio - service, employment
 * servo, -a - servant
 * sessanta - sixty
 * sessantesimo, -a - sixtieth
 * sesso - sex (gender)
 * sesto, -a - sixth
 * settanta - seventy
 * settantesimo, -a - seventieth
 * sette - seven
 * settembre - September
 * settentrionale - northern
 * settimana - week
 * settimo, -a - seventh
 * sezione - section, district
 * si - her or himself
 * siccome - since, inasmuch
 * sig. = signore - Mr.
 * sig.a = signora - Mrs.
 * sigaraio - cigar maker
 * signora - Mrs.
 * Signore - Lord
 * signore - Mr.
 * signorina - Miss
 * sindaco - mayor
 * situazione di famiglia - family list register
 * situazione patrimoniale - estate
 * società - societies
 * soffiatore - blower
 * soldato - soldier
 * solenne - solemn
 * solennizzare il matrimonio - solemnization of marriage
 * solo, -a - only
 * sommario delle materie - contents (table of)
 * sono - are
 * sono, ci - there are
 * sopra - over, on, above
 * soprascritto - aforewritten
 * sopravvivente - surviving, still living
 * sorella - sister
 * sorellastra - half sister, step sister
 * sotto - under, beneath
 * sotto il giorno - on the day
 * sottoscritto - the undersigned
 * sovente - often
 * sp. = sposo, -a - spouse
 * spaccalegna - woodcutter
 * speditore - dispatcher
 * sposa - bride, wife
 * sposarsi - to marry
 * sposato - married
 * sposi - husband and wife
 * sposini - newlyweds
 * sposo - bridegroom
 * staffiere - footman, groom
 * stare - to be
 * stato - state (government)
 * stato civile - civil registration
 * stato d’anima - parish census
 * stato delle anime - censuses
 * stato di famiglia - family register
 * stazione termale - spa, bath
 * stemma - coat of arms
 * stesso - same, self
 * stipettaio - cabinetmaker
 * stitichezza - constipation
 * storia - history
 * storico - historian
 * straccivendolo - rag man
 * strada - road, street
 * stradino - road maker
 * su - on, upon, onto
 * sua - his, her, hers, its, your, yours
 * succursale - branch, affiliate
 * sud - south
 * suddetto - aforesaid
 * sugli - on the
 * sui - on the
 * sul - on the
 * sull’ - on the
 * sulla - on the
 * sullo - on the
 * suo - his, her, hers, its, your, yours
 * suo - his own, its own (reflexive pronoun)
 * suòcera - mother-in-law
 * suòcero - father-in-law
 * superiore - upper
 * svizzero - Swiss

T

 * tagliapietre - stonecutter
 * tagliatore - cutter
 * tappezziere - upholsterer
 * tardo, -a - late (P.M.)
 * tassazione - taxation
 * tavole decennali - ten-year indexes
 * te - you (after a preposition)
 * tedesco - German
 * tempi - times
 * tempo - time
 * temporaneo - temporary
 * tenente - lieutenant
 * terrazzano - peasant
 * terzo, -a - third
 * tessitore - weaver
 * testamento - will (testament)
 * testimonio, -a - witness
 * testo - text
 * ti - you, to you
 * tifoide - typhoid
 * tintore - dyer
 * tisi - consumption, tuberculosis
 * tomo - volume
 * tosse - cough
 * tosse canina - whooping cough
 * tossire - cough
 * tra - between, among
 * trattore - restaurant keeper
 * tre - three
 * tredicesimo, -a - thirteenth
 * tredici - thirteen
 * trenta - thirty
 * trentesimo, -a - thirtieth
 * trentunesimo, -a - thirty-first
 * trentuno - thirty-one
 * tribunale - court, judicial, courthouse
 * trisavolo - second greatgrandfather
 * trovatello - foundling
 * tu, voi - you
 * tumore - tumor
 * tutore - guardian
 * tuttavia - nevertheless
 * tutto - all, everything

U

 * ubriacone - drunkard
 * ucciso - killed
 * uditore - auditor
 * ufficiale - official (of)
 * ufficiale del comune - village official
 * ufficiale dello stato civile - registrar
 * ufficio - office
 * ultimo testamento - last will
 * un (una) - a, an
 * undicesimo, -a - eleventh
 * undici - eleven
 * unirsi in matrimonio - to marry
 * uno, -a - one
 * uomo - man

V

 * vaccaio - cowboy
 * vaiolo - small pox
 * Valdese - Waldensian
 * valle - valley
 * vario - various
 * vasaio - potter
 * vecchio, -a - aged, old man (woman)
 * vedere - see
 * vedovato - widowed
 * vedovo, -a - widower, widow
 * venditore - seller, vendor
 * venerdì - Friday
 * ventesimo, -a - twentieth
 * venti - twenty
 * venticinque - twenty-five
 * venticinquesimo, -a - twenty-fifth
 * ventidue - twenty-two
 * ventiduesimo, -a - twenty-second
 * ventinove - twenty-nine
 * ventinovesimo, -a - twenty-ninth
 * ventiquattresimo, -a - twenty-fourth
 * ventiquattro - twenty-four
 * ventisei - twenty-six
 * ventiseiesimo, -a - twenty-sixth
 * ventisette - twenty-seven
 * ventisettesimo, -a twenty-seventh
 * ventitre twenty-three
 * ventitreesimo, -a twenty-third
 * ventottesimo, -a twenty-eighth
 * ventotto - twenty-eight
 * ventunesimo, -a - twenty-first
 * ventuno - twenty-one
 * verde - green
 * vergine - virgin
 * verso - toward
 * vescovo - bishop
 * vi - there, to it, at it
 * vi, ci - you, us
 * via - road, street
 * vicinanza - neighborhood
 * vicino - neighbor
 * vicino a - next to, near
 * vigile - policeman
 * vignaiolo - grape grower
 * villaggio - village
 * vita - living, alive
 * viticultore - grape grower
 * viv. = vivo, vivente flourished, lived
 * vivere - to live
 * voi - you
 * volontà - will (testament)
 * volume - volume
 * vostro - your, yours

Z

 * zio, -a - uncle, aunt
 * zitella - old maid, spinster