Italian Phrase
Vado a trovare la famiglia.
Meaning
I’m going to visit the family (or my family). The speaker is indicating a near‑future plan to see relatives, often implying a short trip or a stop on a longer journey.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to tell a friend, colleague, or anyone you’re speaking with about your upcoming family visit—e.g., after work, on the weekend, or when you’re traveling back home.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vadoatrovarelafamiglia
Andare + a + infinitive
The construction 'andare a + infinitive' expresses going somewhere with the purpose of doing the action of the infinitive.
Present tense of andare
'Vado' is the first‑person singular present of 'andare' (to go).
Definite article with family nouns
Italian uses the definite article with family nouns when speaking about the family as a unit: 'la famiglia'.
Infinitive placement
The infinitive 'trovare' follows the preposition 'a' directly; dropping the 'a' is a common error.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa fai questo weekend?
What are you doing this weekend?
Vado a trovare la famiglia.
I’m going to visit the family.
✕Common Mistakes
Vado trovare la famiglia.
Missing the preposition 'a' after 'vado'. The correct construction is 'vado a + infinitive'.
Vado a visita la famiglia.
Incorrect verb form; 'visita' is a noun. Use the infinitive 'visitare' or the noun phrase 'visito la famiglia'.
Vado a trovar la famiglia.
The infinitive must be complete: 'trovare', not 'trovar'.
↔Alternatives
Andrò a trovare la famiglia.
I will go to visit the family.
Sto andando a trovare la famiglia.
I’m on my way to visit the family.
Visito la famiglia.
I visit the family.
Cultural Tip
Family gatherings are a cornerstone of Italian life, especially on Sundays and during holidays. When you say you’re ‘going to visit the family’, people often expect you to bring a small gift or share a meal. Using the definite article ‘la famiglia’ signals you’re talking about your own family as a whole, not just a single relative.