How to learn Italian before visiting Italy

Learning Italian before visiting Italy dramatically improves your experience. Even basic phrases signal respect and open doors that English alone won't. The most practical approach for travelers is to focus on pronunciation first, everyday colloquial phrases second and formal grammar last. Apps like Duolingo are a good starting point, but watching Italian TV with subtitles and listening to Italian music accelerates comprehension far faster. If you're visiting Italy, prioritize the phrases Italians actually use in daily life, and not textbook Italian.

It's been a few years since I started learning Italian, and it remains one of the best decisions I've made.

I learned entirely on my own.

No formal classes, no language school, no tutor. I already spoke Spanish, which gave me a strong foundation. Italian and Spanish share enough vocabulary and structure that the early stages felt familiar rather than overwhelming.

Day by day I began to understand more, then speak more.

At the beginning I probably had ten words in my Italian vocabulary.

Now I live in Italy full time, speak Italian daily, sometimes more often than English, and still learn something new every day.

I regularly surprise myself with how much I know and how much I can understand.

Italian started as a hobby, I never imagined I'd be speaking it as my primary language.

In this guide I'll share what worked for me when learning Italian. The apps, TV shows, the music, the colloquial phrases tourists never learn and the one pronunciation mistake almost every English speaker makes.

This isn't a textbook approach. It's what worked for someone who learned by living it.

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Getting started

Learning a new language can be daunting, and at times, wholly frustrating.

Once you start understanding the basics and widening your vocabulary things begin to make sense, but the journey is rarely linear.

I wouldn't say Italian becomes easier over time.

There are still days when my brain simply refuses to function in Italian. What I’d say is that after a while you make fewer mistakes, and that, for me, is the real sign of progress.

The five tips below are where I'd suggest starting.

Knowing some basic Italian isn't essential before visiting, but it makes a real difference, both practically and in how Italians respond to you.

If you're planning a trip to Italy, even a few weeks of daily practice will pay off.

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How hard is it to learn Italian?

If you already speak a Latin-based language, like Spanish, French or Portuguese, you'll have a head start.

Speaking Spanish gave me one, though it's a smaller advantage than you'd expect.

The root of many words is similar, but they're ultimately two different languages and I still occasionally confuse them.

The honest answer: it isn't hard to learn Italian. It's hard to stay motivated and not give up when things get difficult.

My Italian friends tell me how tiring it is to speak English all day, to the point of getting a headache. That's normal on both sides. The difference between those who become fluent and those who don't is simply sticking with it.

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Start here: the one thing most tourists get wrong

Before anything else: grazie (thank you) is not pronounced 'graz-ee.'

This is the single most common Italian mispronunciation among English-speaking tourists. It immediately signals to Italians that you haven't engaged with the language at all.

The correct pronunciation is closer to 'GRAT-see-eh': three syllables, with the emphasis on the first. The final 'e' isn’t silent.

Getting this right costs nothing and immediately changes how Italians respond to you. It signals effort. Effort is noticed and appreciated, even if everything else you say is imperfect.

5 ways to learn Italian before your trip to Italy

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Download a language app

A language app is a useful starting point, and where I began with Duolingo.

It's free, the gamification keeps you consistent and it builds basic vocabulary and sentence structure in a low-pressure way.

That said, I wouldn't call it the best way to learn Italian on its own.

Apps miss a crucial element: human interaction. Repeating phrases with a robotic voice has nothing on conversing in real time with a real person.

Apps are best used as a side resource: filling gaps between other practice, refreshing vocabulary and keeping you consistent on busy days.

They're particularly useful for learning basics, like how to say I love you in Italian, and work well if you're constantly on the go.

The limitation is that Duolingo teaches textbook Italian.

Real Italian, the language Italians actually speak to each other, is different. Once you have a base vocabulary, move to something that exposes you to natural spoken Italian.

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Watch Italian TV shows and films and listen to Italian music

This was the most effective thing I did to accelerate my Italian, and I'd recommend it above almost anything else for travelers preparing for a trip.

Start with Italian films and TV shows.

Watch with English subtitles first so you're absorbing the sounds and rhythm of the language without getting lost.

As your ear improves, switch to Italian subtitles, then no subtitles at all.

Good starting points: Don Matteo, Un posto al sole and L'Amica Geniale. All three are available free on RaiPlay, Italy's national broadcaster's streaming platform.

Alongside TV, listen to Italian music daily.

I'd specifically recommend Antonello Venditti and Mina. Both pronounce their words clearly, which makes it easier to hear individual words and phrases, plus they make good music!

Finding content that matches your personal taste shouldn't be the primary goal. Focus on finding content where the actors and singers speak clearly, from which you can learn from.

Once you get into a routine of listening and watching, your brain slowly acclimates to Italian rhythm, vocabulary and sound without it feeling like studying.

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Immerse yourself in Italian culture

Beyond TV and music, immersion means surrounding yourself with Italian wherever you can find it.

Change your phone language to Italian. Follow Italian accounts on social media. Read simple Italian news headlines. Cook Italian recipes from Italian-language recipe sites.

Every small exposure compounds. The goal is to make Italian a presence in your daily life rather than something you switch on for 20 minutes of Duolingo and then forget about entirely.

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Listen to podcasts

When I first started learning Italian I also found podcasts very useful. They were particularly helpful at the beginning when my listening comprehension was still developing.

The beauty of a podcast is that you can listen anywhere: on the train, walking, at the gym.

I listened to several during my early learning period and they helped my ear adjust to the pace and rhythm of spoken Italian.

There are excellent Italian learning podcasts for every level, ranging from complete beginner to advanced.

Search for 'learn Italian podcast' and filter by your current level.

As your comprehension improves, graduate from learner podcasts to authentic Italian podcasts made for native speakers. This is where the real accelerated learning begins.

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Talk, talk, talk

Ultimately the best way to learn Italian is to start speaking, even before you feel ready.

Speaking a new language for the first time is genuinely terrifying. You’ll make countless mistakes, stutter, experience prolonged silences and sometimes go completely blank.

This is normal and all part of the process. The only way through it is to go through it.

My motivation was personal: my husband's parents don't speak English. I was determined to communicate with them properly, not just smile politely.

That determination drove me to keep speaking even when it was uncomfortable. Find your own version of that motivation.

Practical ways to start speaking

• Ask to be corrected, by Italian friends, a partner, a tutor, anyone.

I asked my husband and Italian friends to correct me constantly. Most language learners avoid correction because it feels embarrassing, but it’s the most valuable feedback you can get.

• Visit your local Italian cafe or deli and greet the owner in Italian.

Start with salve with strangers and ciao once you've established a rapport. Search for Italian conversation meetups in your area. They exist in most cities and are free or low cost.

• Connect online

If you don't have Italians in your life, iTalki connects you with native speakers for conversation practice from around €10 per hour. One hour of real conversation does more for your Italian than ten hours of Duolingo.

What speaking Italian has opened for me

Once you reach the point where you can actually converse, you see things differently.

Doors open, literally and figuratively. Speaking Italian has helped me make contacts, build relationships and feel part of a community in Italy rather than an outsider looking in.

It's that feeling of belonging that drives me to keep learning every day.

A new language isn't just communication. It's connection.

The Italian phrases you need to know: colloquial Italian

This is the section no language app will teach you.

Colloquial Italian, the phrases Italians use in everyday conversation, is what connects you to people rather than just communicating with them.

These aren't phrases you'll find in a Duolingo lesson.

They're the expressions my Italian family and friends use every day, and hearing a foreigner use them correctly produces a reaction that buongiorno never will.

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Mi raccomando

This literally translates to 'I recommend myself to you'.

But it’s used as a warm, emphatic way of saying 'please make sure you do this' or 'take care.'

A mother saying it to their child, or a doctor warmly advising their patient. It's affectionate and emphatic at the same time and there’s no direct English equivalent.

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Figurati

The response to grazie that goes beyond prego.

Where prego is formal, figurati is warm and casual, closer to 'don't mention it' or 'of course, it was nothing'.

Use it when someone thanks you for something small.

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Vabbè/va bene

va bene means 'it's fine/OK/alright'.

Vabbè is the shortened, more casual spoken version. We use it constantly in everyday conversation as an acknowledgment, as a concession or a way of moving on.

Vabbè, andiamo ('alright then, let's go'.)

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Meno male

'Thank goodness' or 'what a relief'. Literally it means 'less bad'.

Use it when something that could have gone wrong didn't. Meno male che sei arrivato ('thank goodness you arrived').

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Dai

One of the most versatile words in Italian.

Depending on tone, we use it everywhere! It means 'come on, really?', 'stop it', 'go ahead'. You'll hear it constantly and context tells you everything.

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Che ne so

Meaning 'how would I know?' or 'beats me'. The Italian shrug in verbal form. Extremely common in casual conversation.

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Magari

This means 'maybe' but it carries a sense of wistfulness or wishful thinking that forse (the standard 'maybe') doesn't.

Magari vengo ('maybe I'll come (I wish I could').

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In bocca al lupo

This means 'good luck' but it literally translates 'into the mouth of the wolf.'

The correct response is crepi! (may it die). Never say grazie in response to this as it's considered bad luck!

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Essential Italian for travelers: practical phrases

Beyond colloquial phrases, these are the practical expressions that’ll make your trip smoother.

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At a bar or cafe

Un caffè, per favore - a coffee please (espresso is the default)
Un caffè macchiato - espresso with a dash of milk
Vorrei… - I would like… (more polite than just naming what you want)
Il conto, per favore - the bill please
Posso avere il conto? - may I have the bill?

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Getting around

Dov'è…? - where is…?
A che ora parte il treno per…? - what time does the train to… leave?
Quanto costa? - how much does it cost?
Mi sono perso/a - I'm lost (perso for male, persa for female)

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Social

Permesso - excuse me (when passing through a crowd or entering a space)
Scusi - excuse me (to get someone's attention)
Non capisco - I don't understand
Parla inglese? - do you speak English?
Può parlare più lentamente? - can you speak more slowly?

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At a restaurant

Cosa consiglia? - what do you recommend?
Sono allergico/a a… - I'm allergic to…
È senza glutine? - is it gluten free?
Buonissimo! - absolutely delicious

Italian pronunciation: the basics

Italian pronunciation is consistent. Unlike English, words are pronounced exactly as they're written once you learn the rules. A few essentials include:

• C and G before E or I: C before e or i is pronounced 'ch', so ciao is 'chow,' arrivederci is 'ar-ree-veh-DER-chee.' G before e or i is 'j', gelato is "jeh-LAH-toh."

• Gli: pronounced like the 'lli' in 'million', gli = 'lyee.' So tagliatelle is 'tal-ya-TEL-leh.'

• Gn: pronounced like the 'ny' in 'canyon', gnocchi = 'NYOH-kee.' Never 'noh-kee.'

• Double consonants: always pronounced distinctly longer. Pizza has a noticeably longer 'ts' sound than a single z would produce.

• Stress: Italian stress almost always falls on the second-to-last syllable. Spaghetti = 'spa-GHE-tee.' Taormina = 'tao-r-MEE-na.'

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Is Italian hard to learn?

For English speakers, Italian is classified by the US Foreign Service Institute as a Category I language.

This means it’s one of the easiest for native English speakers to acquire, typically requiring 600 to 750 hours to professional proficiency.

In practice, conversational Italian for travel is achievable in weeks rather than months with consistent daily practice.

The grammar is more complex than English but the pronunciation is entirely consistent and the vocabulary has significant overlap with English through shared Latin roots.

From my honest experience, Spanish speakers have a significant advantage.

The two languages share vocabulary, grammar structure and rhythm. If you already speak Spanish, Italian will feel familiar from the first lesson.

Without that background, Duolingo plus TV immersion plus speaking practice is the most effective combination that I've found.

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FAQs on how to learn Italian

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Final words

Would you like to learn Italian? What are your thoughts on this guide on how to learn Italian for travel? Leave me a comment below and let me know what stage you are in your learning process.

Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your continued support.

Written by Lisa Rivera: Italy traveler and resident for 10+ years. First-hand researched for 2026.

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