How is the family?
'Famiglia' = fa-MEE-lya — the 'gl' produces a palatal sound like 'ly' in 'million'. Three syllables.
Ask someone you know — a neighbour, colleague, or acquaintance — about their family. Family is central to Italian identity and asking about it shows genuine personal interest.
'Come sta' uses the formal-register verb form (third person singular) — appropriate even in informal contexts when asking about another person's family. 'La famiglia' takes the definite article when used possessively in context.
Come stanno i tuoi?
How is your family? (lit. 'How are your people?')
'I tuoi' = 'your people' — very colloquial and warm Italian way to refer to family.
Come sta tua moglie?
How is your wife?
Specific to a known family member — shows you remember details about their life.
I bambini crescono?
Are the children growing up?
Warm, slightly nostalgic — typical Italian small talk among parents.
Italian children starting 'liceo' (academic high school at around 14) is a significant family milestone. Italian parents invest deeply in their children's education and are proud to discuss academic progress.