Italiano · Italian
Learn Italian vocabulary
Regular pronunciation; single and double consonants matter.
Italian spelling is largely regular. The difference between single and double consonants can change meaning, so listening to the word is useful.
Most of the vocabulary is Latin-based, so if you know Spanish, French or Portuguese you will meet many familiar words. Nouns are masculine or feminine.
What to know
- Double consonants change the sound and sometimes the meaning.
- Latin-based words resemble other Romance languages.
- Nouns have a gender.
Study tips
- Listen to hear the double consonants.
- Use similarities between Romance languages as an advantage.
- Start with common everyday words.
Where is it spoken?
Italian is official in Italy, the Ticino region of Switzerland, San Marino and the Vatican.
Pronunciation and spelling notes
Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable. "c" and "g" soften before "e/i" (ciao, gelato) and harden with "ch" and "gh" (chi, ghiaccio). "gli" and "gn" give special sounds, and double consonants are held longer.
Which languages help?
It shares Latin roots with Spanish, French and Portuguese; with Spanish especially, many words look alike.
A roadmap for your first week
In week one, start with greetings, food and drink and numbers. Italian pronunciation is regular, but watch the double consonants: "pala" (shovel) and "palla" (ball) are different words. Listen to each word so the double consonants settle in your ear.
Common mistakes
- Reading a double consonant as single: "caro" (dear/expensive) and "carro" (cart) differ.
- False friends: "camera" means a room, not a camera; "parente" is a relative, not a parent.
- Guessing gender from endings and never learning the exceptions (for example "il problema" is masculine).
A small sample word list
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| ciao | hello |
| grazie | thank you |
| per favore | please |
| l'acqua | water |
| la casa | house |
| l'amico | friend |
| sì | yes |
| no | no |
| buono | good |
| oggi | today |
This list is our own; it is not an official list and only gives a feel for the first steps in this language.
Studying Italian in Frigya
When you add Italian in Frigya, you choose a separate level (A1–C2) and daily word goal for it. In Discover you meet new words and in Learn you reinforce them with spaced repetition; you can listen to words and example sentences. You can start without an account.
Frequently asked questions
Is Italian pronunciation consistent?
Do regional dialects affect learning?
In Frigya you choose a separate level (A1–C2) and daily word goal for this language. For details see the levels guide.
Learn this language in Frigya
Try it without an account. If you like it, link your progress to one.
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