nazionale

national

adjective nah-tsyoh-NAH-leh Common

Origin: Latin nationalis (of a nation/birth)

Usage Note

Nazionale is invariable in gender (il parco nazionale, la squadra nazionale); plural: nazionali. As a feminine noun, la nazionale refers to a national sports team: la nazionale italiana di calcio. Do not confuse nazionale with nazionalista (nationalist), which has a political charge.

Examples

"La festa nazionale italiana è il 2 giugno."

Natural Translation

The Italian national holiday is the 2nd of June.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

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

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian False Friends: 20 Words That Trick You

Italian false friends like preservativo, parenti, and caldo mean the opposite of what English speakers expect. Here are 20 ranked by how badly they bite.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Articles: Il, Lo, La, I, Gli, Le Explained

Italian has seven words for 'the' — il, lo, la, i, gli, le — but it's two questions, not seven cases. Master gender, sound, and the lo/gli rule fast.

June 5, 2026 7 min read

ItalianNow

How to Order Coffee in Italy Like a Local

Order coffee in Italy like a local: say un caffè (not espresso), pay at the cassa first, drink al banco, and skip the latte trap. Phrases inside.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Diminutives: -ino, -etto, -one Explained

Italian diminutives like -ino, -etto, and -one signal size, affection, or contempt. Learn to read the feeling, dodge gender flips, and spot false diminutives.

June 9, 2026 6 min read