A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "My child is missing" in Italian
How to say 'my child is missing' in Italian for emergency situations.
Mio figlio è scomparso.
MEE-oh FEEL-yoh eh skom-PAHR-sohneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when you cannot find your child in a public place like a park, a shopping mall, or a crowded street. You would say this to police or other authorities.
Alternatives
- Mio figlio non c'è più.Slightly less formal, implies they are gone, not necessarily lost.
- Ho perso mio figlio.More common for a quick, panicked statement of fact.
Ways to get it wrong
Scomparso vs Scomparire
Use the past participle 'scomparso' (missing) not the infinitive verb 'scomparire' (to disappear).
Pronouncing 'figlio'
The 'gli' sound is tricky; it's like the 'lli' in 'million' but softer, with the tongue near the roof of your mouth.
Frequently asked
What if I lost my daughter?
You would say 'Mia figlia è scomparsa.' The ending of 'scomparsa' changes to match the feminine noun 'figlia'.
How to say 'my child' in Italian?
You can say 'mio figlio' for a son or 'mia figlia' for a daughter. 'Mio figlio' is also used generically for 'my child' if the gender isn't specified or important.
What's the difference between scomparso and perso?
'Scomparso' implies a more serious, potentially permanent disappearance, often used for official reports. 'Perso' is more general for having lost something or someone temporarily.
