Italian Phrase
Ho due sorelle maggiori.
Meaning
The speaker is stating that they have two sisters who are older than they are. It conveys both the number of siblings and the relative age relationship.
When to use
Use this sentence when you introduce your family, answer a question about siblings, or talk about your upbringing. It is common in casual conversation, school introductions, or language‑learning drills.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Hoduesorellemaggiori
Avere (Ho)
‘Ho’ is the first‑person singular present of the verb ‘avere’ (to have). It is used to express possession.
Cardinal numbers
‘Due’ means ‘two’. Cardinal numbers do not change for gender or number in Italian.
Noun‑adjective agreement
‘Sorelle’ (feminine plural) must be matched by the adjective ‘maggiori’, which also appears in the feminine plural form.
Maggiori vs più grandi
‘Maggiori’ is the standard way to say ‘older’ for siblings; ‘più grandi’ is a colloquial synonym.
🗨In Conversation
Hai fratelli o sorelle?
Do you have brothers or sisters?
Sì, ho due sorelle maggiori.
Yes, I have two older sisters.
✕Common Mistakes
Ho due sorella maggiori.
The noun must be plural because you are talking about two sisters.
Ho due sorelle più grande.
The adjective must agree in gender and number; use ‘più grandi’ or ‘maggiori’.
Ho due sorelle maggiori di me.
‘Maggiori’ already implies ‘older than me’; adding ‘di me’ is redundant and sounds unnatural.
↔Alternatives
Ho due sorelle più grandi.
I have two older (bigger) sisters.
Sono figlio di due sorelle maggiori.
I am the child of two older sisters.
Ho due sorelle più anziane.
I have two older sisters.
Cultural Tip
In Italian families, the terms ‘fratello maggiore’ and ‘sorella maggiore’ are used to denote the eldest sibling. When speaking about more than one older sibling, the adjective takes the plural form ‘maggiori’. Note that the number ‘due’ never changes, even before a feminine noun, unlike English where ‘two sister’ would be ungrammatical.