Skip to content

cognome

surname

noun koh-NYOH-meh Rare
People & Society Honorifics

Origin: From Latin cognomen, 'additional name, family name'.

Also means

family name

Usage Note

Cognome is the family surname, as opposed to nome (given name) or secondo nome (middle name). On Italian forms, cognome typically appears before nome. The phrase nome e cognome ('first name and last name') is the standard way to ask for a full name. The plural is regular: i cognomi.

Examples

"Qual è il suo cognome?"

Natural Translation

What is your surname?

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore Italian by topic