custodia

custody

noun koos-TOH-dyah Less Common

Origin: Latin custodia (guard, keeping)

Also means

case

Usage Note

Custodia has two common meanings: legal custody (of children or property) and a protective case or cover (for a phone, glasses, etc.). Context distinguishes them — 'la custodia dei figli' is child custody, while 'la custodia del telefono' is a phone case. The related verb is custodire (to guard, to keep). An older sense means a guard or custodian, still found in custodia cautelare (pre-trial detention) in legal Italian.

Examples

"Il giudice ha assegnato la custodia dei figli alla madre."

Natural Translation

The judge awarded custody of the children to the mother.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian Adjective Agreement & Placement Made Simple

Italian adjectives agree in gender and number and usually sit after the noun. Master the -o/-a/-i/-e endings, the BAGS rule, and meaning-shifting pairs.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Buongiorno, Ciao or Salve? Italian Greetings Made Easy

When in doubt, say salve and mirror the reply. Here's how to pick between buongiorno, buonasera, ciao and salve so your Italian greetings never sound rude.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Noun Gender: Rules, Endings & Exceptions

Italian noun gender decoded: -o is usually masculine, -a feminine, but -zione and -tà are feminine, -ore and -ma masculine. Plus the trap words to memorize.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Dialects vs Standard Italian: A Guide

Standard Italian works everywhere, so relax: this three-layer guide to Italian dialects vs standard Italian shows what to ignore and what to notice.

June 9, 2026 6 min read