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How to Say ‘Are they older or younger?’ in Italian

Sono più grandi o più piccoli?

SOH-noh pyoo GRAHN-dee oh pyoo peek-KOH-lee

[SOH-noh pyoo GRAHN-dee oh pyoo peek-KOH-lee]

💬 Usage Tip: Sono here means "they are", the same form as "I am". Context tells you which one is meant.

Phrase Breakdown

Sono più grandi

SOH-noh pyoo GRAHN-dee

Are they older

'Più grandi' (bigger) means older for siblings. Stress 'più': 'pyoo'.

Example

I miei cugini sono più grandi.

My cousins are older.

Words in this phrase

Sono

[SOH-noh]

they are

Third person plural of essere; refers to multiple items.

Example

Le magliette sono molto belle.

The T-shirts are very beautiful.

più

[pyoo]

Used to indicate a greater quantity.

Example

Vorrei Più colori tra cui scegliere.

I would like more colors to choose from.

grandi

[GRAHN-dee]

older / big

Plural of 'grande'; with 'più' about siblings it means older.

Example

I miei cugini sono più grandi.

My cousins are older.

o più piccoli?

oh pyoo peek-KOH-lee

or younger?

'Più piccoli' (smaller) means younger. Say 'PEEK-koh-lee' with a double 'cc'.

Example

Sono più piccoli di me.

They're younger than me.

Words in this phrase

[oh]

Used to offer an alternative, often in a playful contrast.

Example

"O" sei sempre così spiritosa o è solo stasera?

"Or" are you always this witty, or is it just tonight?

più

[pyoo]

Used to indicate a greater quantity.

Example

Vorrei Più colori tra cui scegliere.

I would like more colors to choose from.

piccoli

[peek-KOH-lee]

small

Masculine plural adjective meaning small in size.

Example

I finferli sono piccoli quest'anno.

The chanterelles are small this year.

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