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Easy Italian Graded Readers

Easy Italian Graded Readers

17 Easy Readers To Take Your Italian To The Next Level 

Due Amiche e Un Album di Fotografie

for beginners to lower-intermediate Italian learners (A1-A2)


This is an easy-to-read Italian short story ebook, with each unit taking no more than 10–20 minutes to complete.

This book course, designed for English-speaking students, is intended for both newcomers to Italian and intermediate students looking to brush up on their skills.
The story is set in one of Italy’s most beautiful regions, South Tyrol (or Alto Adige, in Italian), and revolves around the life of Costanza, who embarks on a summer adventure in the Dolomites with her friend Anna. The book is divided into 16 short units and is finished with useful vocabulary and explanations in English. This short story series is ideal for those who want to learn more than just the language, but also about the culture, food, and way of life in various Italian regions. The e-book is completed with an audio book narrated by the author. Not sure if Due Amiche is the right level for you? Download the PDF of chapter 1 for free here. 

Due Amiche – Chapter 1 [FREE download]

 
 

Le Avventure di Paul a Roma 

for advanced beginners to intermediate Italian learners (A1-A2-B1)

Do you know that Rome is a jigsaw puzzle of different neighborhoods, each with its own identity and history? Follow Paul’s adventures in the numerous neighborhoods of Rome, learn more about the Eternal City, and improve your Italian understanding through simple Italian dialogues and stories.

This book is ideal for advanced beginners and intermediate Italian learners. Each chapter is short enough that you can read it in minutes and is followed by a bilingual word list (ENG-IT)

A free audio recording of the story is included with the book. Not sure Le Avventure di Paul is the right level for you? Download the PDF of chapter 1 for free here. 

 

Amore e Cappuccino

for beginner Italian learners (A0-A1)

If you have learned Italian for a month or two, Amore and Cappuccino is the first short story you should read. This is an Italian short storybook for the A0-A1 level. If you are an advanced beginner, you will find this book way too easy, so scroll below for the other ones :). The language used is simple and tailored for a real beginner Italian learner. Each chapter consists of short dialogues between the two main characters: a German girl visiting Rome and her date, Claudio, a man who hides a few mysteries. The setting is the eternal city of Rome. The best thing about Amore and Cappuccino is that it takes place in Rome’s most iconic areas, and other than the language, it teaches you a few elements of Roman art and culture. This is an excellent introductory course to the eternal city if you are planning to visit Rome one day.

Incontri in Sicilia

for lower-intermediate to intermediate Italian learners (A2-B1)


Fiona, the first in her Italian-American family to learn her ancestors’ language. At university in the US, she earned a scholarship and moved to Rome to improve her Italian for a semester. But there’s more to the story. To complete an Italian citizenship application, she must obtain a copy of her great-grandfather’s birth certificate. This brings her to Sicily. In Sicily, she has several encounters that will forever alter her future.This short story is appropriate for all Italian learners who have at least a pre-intermediate level of proficiency in the language (A2). This book might be useful for advanced beginners as well. Not sure Incontri in Sicilia is the right level for you? Download the PDF of chapter 1 for free here. 
 

Incontri in Sicilia – Chapter 1 [FREE download]

 

Le città impossibili 

for beginners to lower-intermediate Italian learners (A1-A2)

This is a great short storybook for those who explore the major Italian cities through their cliches. The book contains 12 chapters: each chapter focuses on a different town, from Palermo to Turin. Every chapter isn’t longer than two pages and follows the steps of a first-time visitor to the cities. At the end of the book, you will find some useful vocabulary, exercises, and cultural insights about each town. This resource helps advanced beginners, and it focuses more on vocabulary (lots of adjectives, vocabulary related to cities) than grammar.

 

Il Gatto scomparso

for lower-intermediate to intermediate learners (A2-B1)

Although the editor claims Il Gatto Scomparso is an A1 book, I think is the best suited for A2-B1 Italian learners. The grammar is pretty simple (lower-intermediate level), but the vocabulary is varied and well beyong beginning level. requires more than a beginner knowledge. Having said that, this is a lighthearted tale about the cat “Gippi” being missing and the several amusing measures his family takes to track him out. The book is also available in a digital version where you may access the free audio, in addition to a paperback edition.

 

Storie per i giorni di festa 

for beginners to lower-intermediate Italian learners (A1-A2)

Have you ever heard of Carnevale? Or Ferragosto? Or do you know how Italians love to spend their Saturday nights? This Italian short story book for advanced beginners is culture-based. Each chapter tells you a story related to a significant Italian holiday and the Italian habits that go with it. This is a brilliant book if you want to expand your Italian vocabulary and strengthen your beginner grammar. As usual for the Alma Italian Short Stories book, you will find grammar and vocabulary exercises and extra cultural insights.

 

 

Dolomiti 

for beginners to lower-intermediate Italian learners (A1-A2)

I love this short story because it takes you to one of my favorite areas in Northern Italy—the Dolomites!

This storybook is written in the present tense. It revolves around Emanuela, a young woman who lives in Dobbiaco (a picturesque mountain village immersed in the Dolomites) and is still not very happy with her life… until she finds a way to change it. 

The story uses a great deal of useful Italian vocabulary for work, transport, and the mountains. At the end of the book, you will find a cultural section where you can read in simple Italian all about the culture, the language, and the food of Aldo Adige (Sudtirol), the region where the Dolomites belong.

The book’s level is for Italian learners who have learned the language for 3–4 months and are familiar with the basic Italian grammar and most recurring Italian everyday vocabulary.

 

Come hai detto che ti chiami?

for beginners to lower-intermediate Italian learners (A1-A2)

Have you already laid the foundations for your basic Italian grammar and vocabulary? If you have learned the Italian present perfect (passato prossimo), the common irregular verbs, and the basic pronouns, this story is for you. The setting is the beautiful city of Como in Northern Italy. It’s a story about a young German woman learning Italian in Germany and an Italian young man learning German in Italy. They meet online for a language exchange; their friendship is based on a misunderstanding, though! This book is a fun story that won’t only reinforce your basic Italian grammar but also help you internalize a lot of relevant Italian vocabulary through the power of reading in context. And if you haven’t been to Como yet, you will learn a lot about the city too.

 

Pasta per due 

for beginners to lower-intermediate Italian learners (A1-A2)

What happens when we are in a foreign country and we don’t understand the language well? Many misunderstandings, of course. Like those that occur to Minni, an Asian girl, when arriving in Italy for the first time to meet her Italian friend Libero in Rome. A fun story that not only reinforces your beginner grammar but also teaches you frequent Italian popular expressions, especially those involving the verb fare.

 

 

Modelle, pistole e mozzarelle 

for lower-intermediate to intermediate Italian learners (A2-B1)

Italian short stories

We are in Milan, Italy’s fashion and financial capital.
A blonde woman walks into detective Antonio Esposito’s office one October morning.
Margaret, her daughter, who is a model, is missing, and she’s on the lookout for her.  This is a lovely mystery book for advanced beginners or intermediate students who want to improve their Italian language skills while expanding their vocabulary by reading a brilliant short story in Italian tailored to their level.

 

 

Le favole di Esopo 

for advanced beginners to lower-intermediate Italian learners (A2)

This Italian short story book contains fourteen of Aesop’s fables translated and adapted for a beginner level: the first seven are in the present tense, the last seven in the past tense.Each chapter (fable) comes with a vocabulary list of the story’s essential words and some simple exercises. You will also have the option to listen to the audio tracks by downloading the audiobook for free by following the last page’s instructions. The fables are profound and straightforward, with a final moral to discover. This short story series in Italian is ideal for those learning Italian at A1 or A2 level.

 

 

Storie di italiani famosi 

for lower-intermediate to intermediate Italian learners (A2-B1)

This is a delightful Italian short storybook for beginners about nine great Italian historical and cultural personalities: Leonardo da Vinci and Federico Fellini, Michelangelo, and Gianni Versace. All the stories recount a real or imaginary episode in the protagonists’ lives, while also highlighting their world and their time. As icing on the cake, every chapter comes with vocabulary and grammar activities and short texts about cultural aspects. In a nutshell, one of the best short story books available on the market is not just about Italian, but about Italian history and Italian culture.

 

La vicina di casa

for intermediate Italian learners (B1)

This is a short story aimed at intermediate students. The story takes place in Piedmont, a mountainous region of Italy bordering France and Switzerland. This ebook is available on Amazon and tells the story of a young Italian writer who relocates to a picturesque village in the heart of Piedmont for a change of scenery. There, she experiences a different pace of life, makes new friends, and learns about different cultures and traditions of the territory.

 

 

Mafia, amore e polizia 

for lower-intermediate to intermediate Italian learners (A2-B1)

A short mystery novel that combines love and crime for lower-intermediate Italian students. An insight into the Italian mafia (written in simplified Italian) stands out, especially at the end of the book. This ebook, which includes audio, uses the present simple, imperfect, and past tense. This is a fantastic story for Italian students at the lower intermediate level.

 

 

 

In other words – Jhumpa Lahiri 

for Intermediate Italian learners (B1)

In other words, this is an unusual book about the author’s fascination with the Italian language and the tenacity with which she pursued her goal for more than two decades, to the point where she wrote an Italian book about how and a little less about why she made this life choice. This version of the book is especially useful for English-native speakers because it includes a page-by-page English translation. The book is aimed at advanced or upper-intermediate Italian students.

 

Piccole storie d’amore 

for intermediate Italian learners (B1)

This is a short story for intermediate Italian learners. The book is made up of nine different love stories. Each story is unique and contains new and exciting vocabulary. Several different verb tenses, pronouns, and prepositions are discussed in the book. It is necessary to have a solid grasp of intermediate grammar. The audiobook is included.

 

 

4 smart tips to learn Italian better with stories

  1. Writing is speaking in slow motion. Be proactive! don’t limit yourself to reading the stories. Use them with your Italian teacher or language exchange partner. A good exercises to summarize the chapters in a few written sentences. Writing will help you consolidate the new vocabulary and grammar patterns , while also improve your ability to construct Italian sentences. 
  2. Talk about it: tired of talking about the weather or the latest news? Talk about the stories with your tutors, teachers or language partners. You won’t learn really something, unless you don’t use it. Using in conversation the vocabulary and grammar patterns will go a long way in helping expanding your vocabulary and cementing your grammar. 
  3. Don’t underestimate reading at any level. Why? When you read, you naturally absorb things like the correct order of the different parts of speech, the correct conjugations, or the use of prepositions.
  4. Re-read your story, two or three times. When you are done with one of these short story books in Italian, don’t put them away for ever. Set them aside for a couple of months and go back to re-read them a second or third time; that’s how you will learn efficiently (retain) your vocabulary.

Use it or loose it! Maximize your Italian speaking time on Preply where you can find affordable language tutors from all over the world, inducing Italy. 

How To Tell The Time In Italian (+ exercises)

How To Tell The Time In Italian (+ exercises)

How to Say the Time in Italian

First, the word “time” has two primary translations in Italian: tempo and ora.

  • Tempo denotes the abstract idea of time (Il tempo vola = time flies)
  • Ora is instead the the, by the clock (che ore sono? = what times is it?)

How to Say “What Time Is It?”

When you want to ask someone what time is it? in Italian, you should say:

Che ore sono?

Note that, unlike in English, both the word “ore” and the verb “essere” appear in their plural form. This makes sense, because time in Italian is a plural entity, just as numbers are plural.

When replying to “che ore sono?” you should say:

  • Sono le + the time 

For example,

  • Sono le 9 – it’s 9 am (or 9 pm)

There are a few exceptions to the “sono le” rule that involve 1, noon, and midnight.

  • E’ l’una – it’s 1 am (or 1 pm)
  • E’ mezzogiorno – it’s noon 
  • E’ mezzanotte – it’s midnight 
Che ore sono? vs Che tempo fa?

Che ore sono? gets often mixed up with “Che tempo fa?” which instead means “What’s the weather like?. The reason is that the word “tempo” is also used in Italian to describe the weather.

24-hour usage vs. the 12-hour usage in Italy 

The 24-hour usage is widespread in Italy, especially when setting appointments or in formal situations, like in the workplace. A train or plane ticket will use the 24h system too.

Let’s see the 24-hour usage in Italian:

  • It’s 1 pm – sono le 13 
  • It’s 2 pm – sono le 14 
  • It’s 3 pm – sono le 15 
  • It’s 4 pm – sono le 16 
  • It’s 5 pm – sono le 17 
  • It’s 6 pm – sono le 18
  • It’s 7 pm – sono le 19
  • It’s 8 pm – sono le 20 
  • It’s 9 pm – sono le 21
  • It’s 10 pm – sono le 22
  • It’s 11 pm – sono le 23
  • It’s 12 pm – sono le 24 

The 12-hour usage is also widely accepted in informal situations and is mostly used in spoken Italian. Sometimes, though, it will be necessary to say whether the appointment is, for example, at 9 am or 9 pm. In this case, it’s common to be more precise about the part of the day, by simply specifying whether something is happening in the morning or in the night, just like this: 

  • Alle 9 di mattina –  at 9 am (at 9 in the morning)
  • Alle 9 di sera – at 9 pm (at 9 in the night)
How to count minutes when saying the time in Italian?

Minutes past

Until 35 minutes past, you can use the following pattern:

  • Sono le 9 e cinque – 9:05
  • Sono le 9 e dieci – 9:10
  • Sono le 9 e quindici – 9:15
  • Sono le 9 e venti – 9:20
  • Sono le 9 e venticinque – 9:25
  • Sono le 9 e trenta – 9:30
  • Sono le 9 e trentacinque – 9:35

With quarter and half, the following pattern is preferred:

Sono le 9 e un quarto – 9:15

Sono le 9 e mezzo – 9:30

Minutes to

After “past 35,” it’s common in Italian to count the minutes to the next hour. So, instead of saying it’s 9:40 (sono le nove e quaranta), Italians would say “it’s ten minus twenty = sono le dieci meno venti”. 

  • Sono le 10 meno 20 – 9:40
  • Sono le 10 meno 15 – 9:45
  • Sono le 10 meno 10 – 9:50
  • Sono le 10 meno 5 – 9:55

With the quarter minus, the following pattern is preferred:

  • Sono le 9 meno un quarto – 8:45

How to say “What Time…?”

If you need to meet an Italian friend, you need to ask her what time you will meet in Italian, right?

What time is it in Italian?

  • A che ora….?

And the answer is…

  • Alle + thetime

For example, 

  • A che ora ci vediamo domani sera? – What time do we meet tomorrow night?
  • Alle 20 – At 8 pm

For noon and midnight, only the simple preposition “a” is used, though: 

  • A mezzogiorno
  • A mezzanotte 

 What “verso” mean? 

Verso means “around” and is used together with the article le. 

  • A che ora ci vediamo domani? – What time are we meeting tomorrow?
  • Verso le 10 – at around 10, tenish

mezzogiorno (noon) and mezzanotte (midnight) don’t use “le”.

  • Verso mezzogiorno – around noon
  • Verso mezzanotte – around midnight 
 What does “in punto” mean? 

Another common Italian time expression is “in punto”.

In punto it means “o’clock” or “on the dot” 

  • Sono le 10 in punto – It’s ten o’clock 
  • Ci vediamo alle 8 in punto davanti al ristorante – I’ll see you at 8 on the dot in front of the restaurant 

 

Exercice

Use it or loose it! Maximize your Italian speaking time on Preply where you can find affordable language tutors from all over the world, inducing Italy. 

Italian Short Stories for Intermediate Learners

Italian Short Stories for Intermediate Learners

8 Easy Readers in Italian for Intermediate Learners (A2-B1)

If reading in Italian has become too much for you, you may not have been using the right content and should think about changing it.

There are countless ways to learn new vocabulary and grammar at an intermediate level of Italian, but the most important thing you need to keep in mind is this fundamental principle: reading the right content at the right level.

Don’t worry. You will not need to have an excellent command of the Italian language. You won’t have to sit and look up every second word in the dictionary. If you choose the right material, reading can be a fun way to learn Italian at any level.

Remember that the learning content you use doesn’t have to be authentic in order for you to make steady progress in your Italian studies. The appropriate level for you should be slightly higher than your current one, challenging but not excessively so. Overwhelming takes the fun out of things!

Why are short stories an effective learning tool?

I understand if you’ve tried and failed to learn new vocabulary using endless vocab lists or flashcards.  It has happened to me as well.
 

We can’t learn words in isolation.

 
We must associate them with meaningful content, a memory, or a story. You’ll find words that fit with the context in a short story, and that’s how you’ll end up memorizing a ton of new vocabulary and naturally perfecting your grammar.
 
Learning words in isolation won’t get you very far if you don’t associate them with any memory.  Immersing yourself in a short story will help you learn proper grammar, learn words and expressions in context, and come up with a good strategy for repeating words and phrases.
 
Because a short story rarely exceeds 20-30 pages, re-reading the content is a simple task. And the key to learning almost anything is repetition.
 
If you’re an intermediate Italian learner, you’ll find a collection of fantastic short stories in this post to help you improve your language skills in a fun way.
 
All of them have proven to be a quick and easy way for my students to improve their conversational skills in a short amount of time.
 

Incontri in Sicilia (A2-B1)

Incontri in Sicilia – Chapter 1 [FREE download]

Incontri in Sicilia is the second episode of my short story collection which help you understand Italian and Italy better through real-life dialogues. The protagonist is Fiona, the first in her Italian-American family to learn her ancestors’ language. At university in the US, she earned a scholarship and moved to Rome to improve her Italian for a semester. But there’s more to the story. To complete an Italian citizenship application, she must obtain a copy of her great-grandfather’s birth certificate. This brings her to Sicily. In Sicily, she has several encounters that will forever alter her future.This short story is appropriate for all Italian learners who have at least a pre-intermediate level of proficiency in the language (A2). This book might be useful for the B1(intermediate) level too.
 

Le Avventure di Paul a Roma (A1-A2-B1)

Le Avventure di Paul a Roma  – Chapter 1 [FREE download]

Do you know that Rome is a jigsaw puzzle of different neighborhoods, each with its own identity and history? Follow Paul’s adventures in the numerous neighborhoods of Rome, learn more about the Eternal City, and improve your Italian understanding through simple Italian dialogues and stories.

This book is ideal for advanced beginners and intermediate Italian learners. Each chapter is short enough that you can read it in minutes and is followed by a bilingual word list (ENG-IT)

A free audio recording of the story is included with the book. Not sure Le Avventure di Paul is the right level for you? Download the PDF of chapter 1 for free here. 

La Vicina di Casa (A2-B1)

This short storybook is an easy read for intermediate learners who want to also learn about the 

beautiful regions of Northern Italy: Piedmont. The story revolves around a young writer who leaves the bustling city of Turin to find peace in the calm and of the Italian Alps, in a small village called Morinesio. There, she will learn to live at a slow pace and make new friends. The book comes with a CD audio version and plenty of excellent drills at the end of the book to help you memorize the new vocabulary and reinforce the main Italian grammar topics at an intermediate level.  

Storie Italiane  (A2-B1)

This is an exquisite short storybook for those who want to learn about the most important Italian historical events/ages. Each chapter is a short story set in a specific historical time, like the Renaissance, the Fasciscim, or the Italian Unification. The book comes with an exercise section and supplementary information boxes to understand better the time discussed for the story.
The vocabulary and grammar used to suit a good intermediate level.

Piccole Storie d’Amore (B1)

A collection of fun short stories where the main topic is love! Each chapter corresponds to a different mini love story and consists of two to five pages. The vocabulary and grammar used are suitable for lower-intermediate and upper-intermediate Italian learners. This short story book has an audio version and comes with a dedicated exercises section at the end of the book.

Il Mistero di Veronica (B1)

This is an easy read for the lower-intermediate level. Veronica is a young woman living in Milan. Her life rotates around her career until she meets on a train a young artist that will turn her life upside down. The two fall in love, but Veronica has a well-kept secret that Massimo will try to uncover. 

The book has an audio version. Each chapter ends with a worksheet with vocab and grammar exercises pertinent to the chapter. 

Le Avventure di Pinocchio  (B1-B2)

This short storybook is the original version of Carlo Collodi’s masterpiece “Le avventure di Pinocchio,” written in Florence in 1881. This version has been re-written in a simplified version for intermediate Italian learners as a second language by Jacopo Gorini. The author made sure the text’s musicality and beauty remained the same, as did the totality of the chapters. You can also download the audio-book by following the instructions at the end of the book. A separate exercise workbook will help you to internalize the new vocabulary and grammar at an intermediate level. This book has a kindle version. 

Davvero (A2-C1)

This short story book is slightly different from the other ones. It is a collection of comics. Each comic revolves around an aspect of modern Italian society. For example, the way Italians greet by kissing each other on the cheeks or their hatred towards the rain! 

If you haven’t used comics to learn Italian so far, you should give it a try. This form of learning will take your Italian a long way as it will help you familiarize yourself with the language in the shape of dialogues. This book is for all levels, from beginners to upper-intermediate. Each chapter ends with a supplementary worksheet about the Italian culture, idioms, vocabulary, and grammar pertinent to the comic you have just read.

Smart tip 

Passive learning:  read it and listen to the content once.

Active learning:

  • Read it.
  • Listen to the content repeatedly.
  • Seek new words or sentences.
  • Create your flashcards.

Proactive learning: use or lose it! Make a written summary of each chapter, ensuring you are using the new set of words and sentences. Talk about it: bring it up in your conversions with your teachers or language partners.

Vocabulary and phrases to rent an apartment in Italy

Vocabulary and phrases to rent an apartment in Italy

Vocabulary and phrases to rent an apartment in Italy

Renting an apartment in Italy can be challenging, particularly in popular tourist destinations such as Roma, Palermo, and Firenze, where short-term rentals have become popular. Everything is possible in Italy with a little patience and a lot of Italian. 

This post is the result of my own search for a rental in Rome’s crazy real estate market for my boyfriend and me. 

To begin with, how do you find an apartment for a long term in Italy? 

Renting from a private owner  

To avoid paying agency fees, try renting directly from a private owner . This is a viable option for smaller cities or rural areas. I wouldn’t advise a foreigner to use this option in larger cities, where it’s easy to fall into a trap without a local understanding of the real estate market. 

The most well-known portal for finding direct rentals from private landlords is

www.subito.it

www.bakeka.it

Using a real estate agency 

In Italy, real estate brokers charge exorbitant commissions (10-15%), but that’s the way it is. You can either go to a real estate agency in your desired area and talk to an agent in person about your options, or you can use an online aggregator and then call the real estate agency to schedule a viewing. 

The most well-known portals for finding rental properties in Italy are

www.immobiliare.it (N.1 in Italy)

www.idealista.it

www.casa.it 

I recommend calling the agency when you find a property you like. Emailing is also an option, but in my personal experience, I’ve never gotten a response to my emails, so I’ve stopped using it. I mean it when I say that Italians prefer phone calls to emails. 

Let’s look at some of the terms that are commonly used when presenting a rental property. 

An apartment can be a:

  • monolocale: one room + kitchen
  • bilocale: one room + a living room + kitchen 
  • trilocale: two rooms + living room + kitchen
  • quadrilocale: two 3 rooms + living + kitchen 
  • mansarda: attic 

Some other things you can read on an ad:

  • l’appartamento è stato recentemente rinnovato (the apartment has been recently renovated)
  • l’appartamento è in buone condizioni (the apartment is in good conditions)
  • l’appartamento viene locato non arredato (the apartment is rented unfurnished)
  • l’appartamento viene locato parzialmente arredato (the apartment is rented partially furnished)
  • l’appartamento è stato recentemente rinnovato (he apartment has been recently renovated)

Types of rooms 

  • cucina – kitchen. 
  • cucina abitabile – kitchen with a big table and living area 
  • cucina americana – kitchen + living a room 
  • bagno con vasca – bathroom with a bath tub. 
  • bagno con doccia – bathroom with a shower 
  • ripostiglio – storage room 
  • camera da letto – bedroom 
  • camera matrimoniale – master bedroom
  • studio – office 
  • soggiorno – living room 

The apartment will be rented :

  • arredato (furnished)
  • non arredato (non furnished) 
  • parzialmente arredato (partially furnished) 

Larger apartments are often rented out non furnished or partially furnished, especially in big cities. 

Other things you should look up

  • aria condizionata  – air conditioning 
  • riscaldamento – heating 
  • porta blindata  – security door 
  • ascensore –  elevator 
  • classe energetica (this is crucial for calculating your electricity bills) A corresponds to the most advanced level of energy efficiency, implying that you will save money on electricity. G denotes a less efficient and modern level of energy efficiency, implying that the electrical infrastructure is old and thus you will pay more.) 

A normal rent doesn’t include:

  • spese di condominio (the cleaning of stairs and communal areas is included in the condominium expenses, which are shared by all residents of a building.)
  • utenze (bills) 

 The apartment can be situated at 

  • piano terreno (ground floor) 
  • primo/secondo/terzo/etc piano (first, second, third, etc story)

 The apartment can come with

  • un balcone  (balcony)
  • una terrazza (terrace)

Types of Italian rental contracts 

  • contratto transitorio (from 1 to 18 months, this is contract is hard to find, because generally owners are willing to rent for the short term end up using airbnb or other similar portals)
  • contratto 3+2 (this is a 3-year long contract that you can extend for another 2  years.  You can break this contract with 6 month notice) 
  • contratto 4+4 ((this is a 4-year long contract that you can extend for another 4  years.  You can break this contract with 6 month notice) 
Vocabulary and sentences to schedule a view over the phone in Italy 

First of all, you should cann the chance if you’re ready to view the apartment within a few days, otherwise it doesn’t make sense. 

  • Buongiorno, chiamo per il trilocale in Viale Francia, è ancora disponibile? – Hello, I’m calling for the three-room apartment in Viale Francia, is it still available?

(then the agent can give you answers and put you through the person who is in charge of the rental?)  

You should clarify the following points before scheduling the viewing:

  • quando si libera l’appartamento? – When is the apartment vacant?
  • l’appartamento è già libero? – Is the apartment already free?
  • l’appartamento è arredato? – Is the apartment furnished?
  • l’appartamento è climatizzato? – Is the apartment air conditioned?
  • A quanto ammontano le spese di condominio? – How much are the condominium expenses?
  • Qual è la vostra provvigione?  – What is your commission?
  • l’appartamento è adatto per una famiglia con un bambino?  – Is the apartment suitable for a family with a child?
  • l’appartamento è adatto per accogliere un cane/gatto?  – Is the apartment suitable for a dog / cat?

And last,

  • scusi può parlare lentamente? – Can you speak more slowly, please? 

Importantly, it is customary in Italy to require tenants to show proof of income or a permanent work contract for long-term rentals. They may also request a “garante” in some cases. A garente is someone who will pay your rent if you are unable to do so.

MAGARI and FORSE: the difference explained

MAGARI and FORSE: the difference explained

Magari vs. Forse: The Difference Explained 

If you ended up here, you wonder whether there is any difference between the words “magari” and “forse“. Well, there is a subtle but significant one.

First of all, to understand the difference between magari and forse, we need to examine the various meanings of the Italian adverb magari.

The three meanings of MAGARI

Magari is one of those little words that Italians throw in all the time, that with no direct English translation, it’s often not easy to understand. Sometimes magari means if only, sometimes it means I wish, and it means maybe too.

Smart Tip

To understand the meaning of magari, you need to pay attention to the type of verbs used within the same tenses.

When magari is used with the indicative mood, it means perhaps.

When magari is used with an imperfect subjunctive, it means if only or I wish

Let’s have a closer look at how to use magari, and how it is different from forse.

When “magari” means “maybe” 

Magari means maybe, just when it appears in combination with an indicative mood (generally the present tense or past participle).

How magari is different from forse, then?

While “forse” has a neutral connotation, “magari” entails a sense of excitement and hopefulness. If you use magari, in place of forse, you are excited about that possibility. You wish that to happen.

The Italian word magari stems from the ancient Greek word makarios, meaning positive, happy. 

  • Forse andiamo a sciare a Cortina, questo fine settimana (neutral)
  • Magari andiamo a sciare a Cortina, questo fine settimana (hopefully) 

When “magari” means “I wish” 

Magari means I wish when it is used as an exclamation in an answer. For example, if a friend asks you if you want to go for a drink downtown, and your reaction is positive, you might say magari! I wish that! Why not?. In this case, the word “magari” can be replaced by the adverb “volentieri” which means with pleasure.

  • Vuoi venire a vedere con me la mostra su Raffaello al Museo Nazionale?
  • Magari!

Magari, is used as an exclamation in an answer also when you mean I wished you could do something, like in the following sentences.

  • Parli bene italiano?
  • Magari!

It means that you wish you could speak Italian fluently, but you don’t at the moment.

When “magari” means “if only” 

Magari means if only (with a positive connotation) in a sentence followed by the congiuntivo imperfetto (the one with the two esses – avessi, fossi, vivessi, etc).

  • Magari potessi parlare italiano perfettamente – If only I could speak Italian perfectly
  • Magari vivessi a NYC – If only I lived in NYC 

Is it always possibile to use magari as opposed to forse?

YES. Is it possible to use magari instead of forse. Magari and forse are interchangeable when magari means forse and is used with the indicative mood. Don’t forget that the message you express will be slightly different if you use one or another. Remember, magari is always positive, forse is neutral. 

Other ways to say “forse” in Italian

  • Può darsi – può darsi che cambi lavoro 
  • Per caso – hai una penna da prestarmi, per caso?
  • Probabilmente – probabilmente pioverà domani 
  • Chissà  – chissà se andremo in vacanza quest’anno
The 21 Most Popular Italian Sayings About Life and Their Meanings

The 21 Most Popular Italian Sayings About Life and Their Meanings

25 Most Popular Italian Sayings About Life and Their Meanings

Learning sayings in Italian may not only help you with your learning but also give you an insight into the culture of Italy. There are many Italian sayings that are used in everyday life;

Most Italian proverbs have clear cultural or regional boundaries, making them difficult to interpret without a thorough understanding of Italian culture and history. The vast majority of Italian sayings are simply wise words that can be found in a variety of languages and cultures.  

How to learn Italian sayings effectively as a non-native speaker? 

The most effective way to incorporate Italian sayings or idioms is to choose the transparent ones, that is, those with a literal translation in your mother language: they simply make more sense and are easier to remember. 

In this list, I chose to focus on these sayings because they represent some aspects that are very typical for Italy and Italians, like family values, life,  love, or food. And, they are sentences we Italians really use. 

Do you want to learn more idioms? Try these Latin ones 12 Latin expressions Italian likes to use. 

1. Fidarsi è bene ma non fidarsi è meglio

Trusting is good, but not trusting is better.

Meaning: It means that while trust is important in life, you don’t have to be overly optimistic; a little extra attention won’t hurt anyone.  

2. Finché c’è vita, c’è speranza

As long as there is life there is hope

Meaning: It means that one should never despair, even in difficult circumstances. This expression is sometimes used ironically with those who continue to hope despite the fact that it is useless.

3. Il fine giustifica i mezzi

the end justifies the means

Meaning:  it means that If the goal is good, one should not be concerned with the means and methods employed to get there.

4. Can che abbaia non morde 

The dog that barks doesn’t bite

Meaning: It means that those who make a lot of threats don’t always follow through with their threats.  

5. Parlare come un libro stampato

To talk like a printed book

Meaning: someone who speaks like a printed book does so by using the language correctly and appropriately, as a book would. 

6. A caval donato non si guarda in bocca 

You don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

Meaning: “caval donato” literally means a horse that has been given as a gift.  “Non si guarda in bocca” means you should look in the mouth (of the horse). 

In a figurative sense, the statement implies that you should not criticize what has been given to you. This expression comes from the old practice of horse traders inspecting a horse’s teeth before purchasing it, to determine the good health of the animal.

7. Ambasciator non porta pena 

Don’t shoot the messenger

Meaning: this phrase essentially indicates that “the ambassador does not give unpleasant news”  The meaning of the statement is that anyone who delivers bad or unpleasant news on behalf of others is not responsible and hence cannot be condemned.

8. Le bugie hanno le gambe corte 

Lies have short legs 

Meaning: that’s, of course, an appeal not to lie because “lies have short legs.” What does it mean? It means that lying won’t get you anywhere because lies have “short legs” and so they can’t go a long way and won’t last long.

 9. Piove sempre sul bagnato 

It always rains on the wet (lit.)

Meaning: when it rains, it pours is the closest English translation. This sentence has only a negative connotation in English, implying that things are continuing to go wrong for someone who is already unlucky. Piove sul bagnato also has a positive connotation in Italian. It also means that those who have already had good fortune will continue to have it.

10. Occhio non vede, cuore non duole

The eye doesn’t see, the heart does not hurt (lit.) 

Meaning: If you don’t see something you probably don’t want to know about, you won’t suffer from it. So, what the eye doesn’t know, the heart doesn’t grieve over it.

11. Ogni lasciata è persa

Everything left is lost (lit.)

Meaning: this Italian proverb is used to point out that if you haven’t been able to seize an opportunity when it arose, you will most likely miss it forever. It’s then used as an exhortation to take the chances when they arise, without pondering and postponing too much. 

12. Chi nasce tondo non può morir quadrato

Those who are born round, can’t die square (lit.)

Meaning: this Italian proverb suggests that it’s complicated to eradicate bad habits and that it’s complicated, if not impossible, to change them.

13. Non si può avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca 

You can’t have a barrel full of wine and a drunk wife at the same time (lit.)

Meaning: this Italian saying is good for those who struggle to make decisions. Sometimes to get something, you need to give up on something else. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Sometimes, you can’t have all you want simultaneously, but you need to give up on something.  

14. Paese che vai usanze che trovi 

Every country you visit has different customs (lit.)

Meaning: that’s an invitation to be tolerant of the customs of other cultures. 

That’s the Italian equivalent of the famous saying when in Rome, do as the Romans do. 

15. Mal comune mezzo gaudio

Shared trouble, shared joy 

Meaning: that’s an invitation to open up or share your trouble. If you share it, it’s less likely to overwhelm you, and your problem won’t seem so daunting. A trouble shared is a trouble halved. 

16. Chi ha tempo non aspetti tempo

Who has time, shouldn’t wait for time 

Meaning: that’s something you can say to invite someone to stop procrastinating and put off until tomorrow what he can do today.  

17. La notte porta consiglio

 Night brings advice 

Meaning: some days we are presented with many challenges or important decisions to make. That’s why it makes more sense to sleep over it and make your choices in the morning with a fresh mind.

Read also: 5 Italian sayings on love 

18. L’ospite è come il pesce dopo tre giorni puzza 

A guest is like a fish that, after three days, stinks 

Meaning: I find it very funny and real. We all like to have friends and family around, but we don’t like it anymore if they stick around too long. 

19. Meglio soli che male accompagnati

Better alone than in the bad company 

Meaning: This saying can be used in a situation where one is not happy about doing something alone. It says that it is better to be alone or carry a task individually than in the company of someone that might harm your life, business, tasks.

20. L’erba del vicino è sempre più verde

The grass is always greener on the other side

Meaning: That’s a saying that you can find in almost every language. The English have a literal translation of the Italian proverb. L’erba del vicino è sempre più verde means that we might think that our friends or neighbors are in a better situation than ourselves, even though this is not true.

21. De gustibus non disputandum est (Latin) – Tastes differ 

Tastes differ (lit.)

Meaning: Italy has a long list of Latin sayings that have survived into modern Italian, such as De gustibus non disputandum est. It means that everyone is different and so has different tastes. We should be tolerant and respect other people’s feelings or inclinations.

22. Troppi cuochi guastano la cucina

Too many cooks spoil the broth

Meaning:  Only one chef should be in charge in the kitchen; otherwise, things go horribly wrong. Similar to this, when an excessive number of people work on the same task without communicating with one another, the result can be chaos and conflicting instructions.

23. TENTAR NON NUOCE

There’s no harm in trying (lit.)

Meaning: there is nothing wrong with making an attempt; If you have a problem, always try to solve it; if it fails, you’ve learned just another lesson.

24. CHI SI FA I FATTI SUOI CAMPA 100 anni

Who wants to live longer, should mind his own business (lit.)

Meaning: it means that if you stay out of other people’s business, you’ll a happier and longer life.

25. NON DIRE GATTO SE NON CE L’HAI NEL SACCO

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch (British proverb) 

Don’t say cat if you don’t have it in the bag (lit.)

Meaning: this is a popular Italian proverb that means we should not rely on something hoped for until we are certain it will happen.  It’s frequently used in negative sentences.

Read also: 12 Latin Sayings in Italian

 

Use it or loose it! Maximize your Italian speaking time on Preply where you can find affordable language tutors from all over the world, inducing Italy. 

Italian Phrases for Saying You’re Sick

Italian Phrases for Saying You’re Sick

Italian Phrases for Saying You’re Sick

Whether you got Covid (hopefully not) or the seasonal flu (influenza stagionale), these phrases will help you describe your symptoms or ask about someone’s health conditions.

How to say you’re sick 

Sono malato (malato = adj.) – I’m sick 

Mi sono ammalato (ammalarsi = verb) – I got sick 

Ho preso l’influenza – I got the flu

Ho preso il COVID – I got Covid 

Non mi sento molto bene  – I don’t feel very well

Italian phrases to describe your symptoms: 

  • ho la febbre  – I have a fever
  • ho mal di testa – I have a headache
  • ho mal di gola – I’ve got a sore throat
  • ho mal di pancia – I’ve bellyache
  • ho mal di stomaco – I’ve a stomach ache
  • ho mal di schiena – I have back pain
  • ho un (forte) raffreddore – I have a (severe) cold
  • ho la tosse – to cough
  • ho le braccia deboli / senza forza  – I have weak arms
  • ho le gambe deboli / senza forza – I have weak legs
  • non ho appetito – I have no appetite
  • mi gira la testa – I feel dizzy
  • mi sento stanco/a – I feel tired
  • ho la schiena a pezzi – my back is broken
  • non riesco a respirare – I can not breathe
  • non riesco a dormire  – I can not sleep

Asking a sick person, how they are feeling 

  • Come ti senti? – How do you feel?
  • Ti senti meglio? – You feel better?
  • Come stai oggi? – How are you today?
  • Ti sei ripreso? – Did you recover?
  • Ti è passato/a il mal di gola/il mal di testa/la febbre? – Did your sore throat/the cough/the fever go away?

How to wish someone a speedy recovery

  • Spero che ti senti meglio presto – I hope you feel better soon
  • Spero che ti riprenda presto – I hope you get better soon
  • Riguardati! – take care!

Tell that you’re recovering from being sick 

  • Mi sento bene/meglio adesso – I feel better now 
  • L’influenza/la tosse/la febbre mi è passato/a – the flu/cough/fever went way
  • Mi sento di nuovo in forma – I fell in good shape again

Verbs used in Italian to talk about feeling sick

  • ammalarsi – to get sick
  • riprendersi – to recover
  • guarire – to recover
  • riguardarsi – to take care
  • curarsi – to take care of yourself
  • curare – to nurse

Medicines and treatments 

  • prendere una compressa – to take a pill 
  • prendere uno sciroppo – to take  syrup 
  • prendere una bustina di analgesico – to take a packet of painkiller 
  • misurare la febbre – to measure one’s temperature
  • chiamare il medico – to call the doctor 
  • andare dal medico – to go to the doctor 
  • andare in farmacia – to go the pharmacy 
  • riposarsi – to rest, to lie down
  • stare a letto  – to stay in bed 
The verb MANCARE explained

The verb MANCARE explained

The verb MANCARE explained

If you want to say “I miss” in Italian, you should say “mi manca” and not “manco”. 

Why so? What does the “mi” in front stand for?

The verb “mancare”

The mi is an indirect pronoun and it’s used because mancare doesn’t follow a regular conjugation pattern, but it has the same construction of the verb “piacere”.

Both verbs piacere and mancare are known as “impersonal verbs”.

Impersonal verbs are conjugated with indirect objects pronouns and in the third persons singular and plural. 

That’s why in Italian we can’t say “manco” (which literally would mean something like, “I am lacking”). Instead we use the forms mi manca or mi mancano, which are the third personal singular and plural conjugations of the verb mancare + the appropriate indirect pronoun. 

Use the verb “mancare” with the following pattern:

  • Mi manca + singular noun, or verb (in the infinitive form)
  • Mi mancano + plural noun

Examples:

  • Mi manca l’italia → I miss Italy
  • Ti manca viaggiare? → Do you miss traveling?
  • Mi mancano i miei amici → I miss my friends

Mancare in the present tense 

3° person singular 3° person plural In English
mi mancami mancanoI miss
ti mancati mancanoyou miss
gli mancagli mancanohe misses
le mancale mancanoshe misses
ci mancaci mancanowe miss
vi mancavi mancanoyou miss (pl.)
gli mancagli mancanothey miss

Why do you use “a” before mancare, sometimes?

When the person who misses something is explicit (is mentioned), the noun must be preceded by the preposition “a“:

For example,

  • A Marco manca l’italia – Marco misses Italy  
  • A Lucia non manca la sua vecchia casa – Lucia doesn’t miss her old house
  • Ai miei amici manca viaggiare – My friends miss traveling

In all of the foregoing sentences Marco, Lucia and i miei amici are explicit.

Of course, if we wanted we could replace the person mentioned with the indirect pronouns, for example:

  • Gli (a Marco) manca l’italia – He misses Italy  
  • Le (a Lucia) non manca la sua vecchia casa – She doesn’t miss her old house
  • Gli (ai miei amici) manca viaggiare – They miss travelling

How to say “I missed” – MANCARE with the passato prossimo

Just like in the present tense, mancare follows a different conjugation pattern with the passato prossimo.

3° person singular 3° person plural In English
mi è mancato/ami sono mancati/e I missed
ti è mancato/ati sono mancati/e you missed
gli è mancato/agli sono mancati/e he missed
le è mancato/ale sono mancati/e she missed
ci è mancato/aci sono mancati/e we missed
vi è mancato/avi sono mancati/e you missed (pl.)
gli è mancato/agli sono mancati/e they missed

As you can see from the list above, the past tense combines three elements: 

the indirect pronouns + the auxiliary essere + the past participle (mancato/a/i/e).

Different uses of the mancare 

mancare = non c’è (there’s not)

Mancare is a verb with many usages. One of them is when mancare is used to state that something is there or not there. 

In this case the meaning of mancare is similar to the meaning of “there isn’t” and “there aren’t”.

  • manca = non c’è (there’s not)
  • non manca = c’è (there’s)
  • mancano = non ci sono (there are not)
  • non mancano = ci sono (there are)

For example:

  • manca una persona nel gruppo  – one person is missing from the group
  • mancano i bicchieri a tavola – there are no glasses on the table
  • non manca niente – nothing is missing

Quanto manca? 

Another usage of mancare is related with the time and is the translation of the English sentences “X time is left until something”

For example

  • mancano due settimane a Natale – there are two weeks left until Christmas 
  • manca un’ora per arrivare  – there’s one hour left until arrival 
  • mancano 10 minuti alla fine della lezione – there are 10 minutes left until the end of class

This use of mancare is very colloquial and used in spoken in Italian and sometimes it’s hard to translate in English. 

mancare vs. perdere

The verb “to miss” has two main definitions in English: either you miss something or someone with nostalgia, or you miss a train, bus, or an opportunity. The verb “to miss” in Italian, however, only has the first meaning (when you miss someone or something in a nostalgic way), not the second.

Use the verb perdere, which means to lose, to say that you missed a train or an opportunity.

  • ho perso il treno  – I missed my train 
  • ho perso una grande opportunità – I missed a good opportunity  

 

How to say I miss you 

Mi manchi means “I miss you” and I recommend learning this sentence as an expression as this us of the verb mancare is not common in other conjugations or tenses. 

The 3 ways of saying TIME in Italian – ORA/TEMPO/VOLTA

The 3 ways of saying TIME in Italian – ORA/TEMPO/VOLTA

ORA/TEMPO/VOLTA: What’s the difference?

Ora, tempo, volta all express, in different ways, the idea of time in English.

However, they can’t be used interchangeably and there’s a stark difference between all of them.

So, what’s the difference between these three words? 

When ORA means time

Ora (or ore, in the plural form ) is used to ask the time

  • Che ora è? – What time is it? 
  • Che ore sono? –  What time is it? 

(Both questions are equally used)

Ora is also used in the common expression it’s time to…

  • E ora di andare a letto! – It’s time to go sleep 

Ora has another common meaning in Italian, which is now. In this case, ora is a synonym of adesso. 

  • Ora andiamo a casa, ragazzi! – Now, we go home kids!

Ora is also used in the common Italian idiom non vedo l’ora, which means. I can’t wait or I look forward to.

  • Non vedo l’ora che arrivi l’estate – I can’t wait for the summer 

When TEMPO means time

The word tempo is used to describe the abstract idea of time or the passing of time. 

  • Il tempo vola – time flies
  • Hai tempo per oggi? – Do you have time for me today? 
  • Non ho mai tempo per i miei amici – I never have time for my friends 

Tempo is also used in many time expressions too, for instance 

  • Molto tempo – long time
  • Molto tempo fa – a long time ago 
  • Poco tempo fa – a short while ago 
  • Pl tempo libero – free time 

But tempo also means weather, and so it used to speak about the weather…

  • Che tempo fa? – How is the weather? 
  • Il tempo è bello oggi – It’s nice/sunny today 

When VOLTA means time

Volta (or volte, the plural fom) is generally used in combination with other words resulting in time expressions.

We use volte to say how many times you have done something.

  • Molte volte – many times 
  • Poche volte – few times
  • Qualche volta – sometimes 
  • Una volta – once 
  • Due volte – twice
  • etc..

We use the word volta in expressions like the first time, the second time, etc..

  • Prima volta – first time
  • Seconda volta – second time
  • Etc…

And, finally, we use volta in several other time expressions like 

  • C’era una volta – once upon time
  • Una volta – once
  • Un poco alla volta – little by little 
Italian Adjectives & Expressions to talk about someone’s Personality 

Italian Adjectives & Expressions to talk about someone’s Personality 

Italian Adjectives & Expressions to Describe Someone’s Personality 

Describing someone’s personality in one’s native language is difficult enough, let alone in a language we don’t know well.  Adjectives are commonly used to describe someone’s personality.
I’ve created a list of some of the most basic Italian adjectives to use when discussing personality, as well as some fun and useful expressions for more advanced learners.
 
I recommend learning every adjective and its antonym and associating it with someone you know or yourself.
 

Basic Italian adjectives to describe someone’s personality 

buono – good  | cattivo – bad, mean

simpatico – nice, friendly | antipatico – unfriendly

empatico  – empathetic

gentile, educato – polite | maleducato – rude

generoso –  generous | taccagno  – cheap 

felice – happy | triste – sad

paziente – patient | impaziente – impatient

responsabile – responsible | irresponsabile – irresponsible

espansivo – effusive, warm | riservato – secretive, reserved

affettuoso – affectionate 

altruista – altruistic | egoista – selfish 

ottimista – optimistic | pessimista  – pessimistic

impulsivo  – impulsive | riflessivo – pensive 

sicuro di sé – confident | timido – shy

estroverso – extrovert | introverso – introvert

silenzioso – quiet | chiacchierone – chatty

coraggioso – brave | codardo – cowardly 

attivo – dynamic | pigro – lazy

affidabile – trustworthy, reliable | inaffidabile – untrustworthy, unreliable

ipocrita – hypocrite | sincero – honest

allegro – cheerful, bubbly

arrogante – arrogant

socievole – sociable | asociale – not sociable 

stravagante – extravagant  

sensibile – sensitive | insensibile – insensitive, callous 

 

Advanced Italian adjectives to describe someone’s personality

spensierato – cheerful, a person who doesn’t worry 

negligente – sloppy, carless 

pensieroso – thoughtful 

logorroico  – long-winded (in an annoying way)

loquace  – chatty, talkative 

polemico – quarrelsome, someone who has always an argument 

scorbutico  – crabby, obnoxious person  

affascinante  – charming

superficiale – shallow

tenace, determinato – determined

lunatico – moody 

ipocondriaco – hypochondriac

vanesio  – vain

venale  – venal

permaloso – prickly 

saccente – a know-all, a smart-ass 

ambizioso – ambitious 

parsimonioso – thrifty

curioso – inquisitive

invadente – nosy

insistente – pushy 

sbadato – absent-minded

Italian expressions to describe someone’s personality 

avere un caratteraccio – to be bad tempered 

avere un carattere solare – to have a radiant personality

avere una personalità affascinante – to have a charming personality 

essere una vipera – to be bitchy  

avere la mente aperta – to open-minded

avere la mente chiusa – to be close-minded

essere alla mano  – to be easygoing 

avere un  carattere deciso  – someone who knows what he or she wants

essere un rompiscatole (vulgar) – to be a pain in the neck 

essere un attaccabrighe – to be troublemaker 

essere una persona di buon cuore  – to be  good-hearted

essere una persona di sani principi – to be someone with good values

essere in (gran) forma – to be in a great shape

essere fuori forma  – to be in poor shape

vivere in un modo tutto suo – to live in one’s own world

essere pieni di sé – to be full of one’s self

essere fuori dagli schemi – an unconventional person 

avere una personalità forte – to have a strong personality 

avere i piedi per terra – to be down-to-earth

Italian adjectives to describe someone intellectual ability

geniale – brilliant

brillante – brilliant

sveglio – brainy (colloquial), smart

intelligente – intelligent

acuto – sharp 

furbo – cunning (negative)

essere in gamba – to be very capable

 

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How to write a formal (or informal) email in Italian

How to write a formal (or informal) email in Italian

How to write an email or letter in Italian

You may have been faced with the situation that you need to write a letter or an email in Italian to your Italian professor, your tour guide in Italy or an Italian Language School, and you don’t know where to start. So you switch to English, the lingua franca. 

You shouldn’t, because writing a letter in Italian is not so difficult. All you need to do is learn the standard greetings and introductions, and there you have it.

Of course, the types of greetings and introductions, you are going to use,  depend on to whom you are writing. And so, a distinction has to be made between writing a formal letter and an informal one. 

 

How to write a formal email or letter

How to start a formal email or letter in Italian 

If the situation requires you to be formal, you can start your email like this…

  • Gentile Sig. Rossi – Dear Sir 
  • Gentile Sig.a Rossi – Dear Madam

If the situation requires you to be super formal, you should opt for this greeting

  • Egregio Sig. Rossi Sir
  • Egregia Sig.ra Rossi Madam

In formal letters or emails the abbreviations Sig. stands for Sir, Sig.ra stands for Madam. 

If the setting is not so formal or you don’t know, you could start your email with a Buongiorno or Buonasera.  

THE TITLES

Italians love using their titles, so it is important to mention them even in a letter. If the addressee has a title,  you can use the following abbreviations The abbreviation goes straight before the person’s name. For example: Dott.ssa Mattea Capelli or Ing. Marco Ruggero.

  • Dott. – Dott.ssa (dottore – dottoressa = a doctor or anyone with a degree)
  • Avv. (avvocato – lawyer),
  • Ing. (ingegnere – engineer),
  • Arch. (architetto – architect),
  • Rag. (ragioniere – accountant)
The introduction…

Referring to something 

  • Le scrivo, in riferimento al nostro incontro – I am writing with regard to our meeting
  • Le scrivo, in riferimento al colloquio telefonico – I am writing with regard to our phone call
  • Come anticipato nella mail precedente / telefonicamente – as stated in previous mail / call
  • In risposta alla Sua mail…- In answer to your email (Sua is upper case here to distinguish it from the possessive adjective of the 3rd person singular sua “his/her)”
The body 

In the main body of the mail you should write the reasons for writing, such as…

  • Con la presente comunico… – I am writing with regard to 
  • Con presente, scrivo per presentare la mia candidatura per il posto di (job position) presso (company) – I am writing to apply to the X job position 
  • Le scrivo perché vorrei qualche informazione su… – I am writing because I would like to know…

The closings

The most common Italian letter closings are:

  • In attesa di riscontro, resto a disposizione per chiarimenti e porgo cordiali saluti 
  • In attesa di un Suo cortese riscontro
  • Ringraziando per l’attenzione 
  • In attesa di un Suo riscontro, porgo i miei più cordiali saluti

These letter endings stand for the English I am looking forward to hearing from you. Regardless, the meaning is slightly different, they serve the same purpose and are used in Italian in the same way.

Formal salutation

As for the final greetings, you should use the following Italian (formal) salutations or saluti formali, which stands for the English sincerely or warm/kind regards.  

  • Distinti Saluti 
  • Cordiali Saluti
  • Cordialmente 

If you have an attachment, don’t forget to mention it

  • In allegato invio… – please find in attachment 
  • Allego… – I am attaching 

How to say  “I am looking forward to hearing from you”?

To round out the list, a note goes to the standard way of concluding an email in English: “I look forward to hearing from you.” The better way to translate this sentence in Italian is by using the phrases

  • Aspetto Sue notizie (formal setting)
  • Aspetto tue notizie (informal meeting)

Examples of formal letters (or emails) in Italian 

Gentile Sig.na Rossi,

Con la presente, invio la mia candidatura per il posto di lavoro come Responsabile di Amministrazione presso i Vostri uffici.  

Allego il mio CV e lettera di motivazione.

In attesa di un Suo riscontro, porgo i miei più cordiali saluti. 

Serena

Gentile Sig. Rossi

Le scrivo in in riferimento al nostro colloquio telefonico di ieri, per comunicarle che abbiamo preso in considerazione la Sua proposta di progetto. La invitiamo a mandarci al più presto un report completo del progetto.

In attesa di un cordiale riscontro, le porgo i miei cordiali saluti.

Serena Rossi 

How to write a informal email or letter in Italian 

If you are writing your email or letter to an Italian friend or colleague, then the tone must be  different, and you can switch to more informal greetings and ending salutations. Let’s see how 

When it comes to starting a friendly email, you can opt for 

  • Caro Marco
  • Cara Lucia

Caro stands for dear, but it is used just in informal and friendly settings. You can also open your letter by using ciao. 

Concerning to ending a friendly letter or email, you should choose one of the following Italian salutations (Saluti informali)

  • Fammi sapere – let me know
  • Un abbraccio – hugs 
  • Un caro saluto – cheers
  • A presto – until the next time 

Example of a (short) friendly email in Italian 

Ciao Marcello

Come stai? Scusami se ti rispondo con molto ritardo ma sono stato molto impegnato ultimamente.  Come va la vita? Ci sono novità a lavoro? Per quanto riguarda quel progetto, ne ho parlato con il mio capo. In allegato ti mando mando i dettagli dell’incontro. 

Fammi sapere cosa ne pensi 

Un abbraccio

Marco 

Use it or loose it! Maximize your Italian speaking time on Preply where you can find affordable language tutors from all over the world, inducing Italy. 

How to use BENE, BRAVO, BELLO and BUONO!

How to use BENE, BRAVO, BELLO and BUONO!

How to use BENE, BRAVO, BELLO and BUONO

In a Nutshell…

  • Bene is an adverb and is used only with verbs – Paolo parla inglese bene (Paolo speaks English well)
  • Bravo is used just with people – Paolo è bravo! (Paolo is skilled and talented)
  • Buono refers to the interior qualities of things or people – Paolo è buono (Paolo is good at heart)
  • Bello refers to the exterior qualities of things or people – Paolo è bello (Paolo is handsome) 

When to use BENE

Bene is often misused. One of the most recurring mistakes I hear from English native speakers, is using bene for good. That’s incorrect.

  • Good translates into “bene” just in the phrase “sto bene” = I’m good. Otherwise, it only means well. 

Never say: il libro è bene ❌

Bene is also an adverb, which means that it can be used only after a verb, like the following examples: 

  • Marco cucina bene – Marco cooks well 
  • Lucia disegna bene – Lucia draws well 

Intensifiers of bene

  • molto bene, benissimo = very well
  • strabene (colloquial) = super good 

When to use BRAVO

Bravo is an adjective which is often misused too. 

Bravo means, indeed, good. But, it’s just used for a person and with the meaning of talented, skilled, or good at something. 

  • Luca è bravo a disegnare  (or Luca è bravo in disegno) – Luca is good at drawing 
  • Luca è bravo a cucinare (or Luca è bravo in cucina) – Luca is good at cooking 

Note that you can use the adverb bravo in two different ways, like the above phrases.

  • essere bravo + a + verb – Luca è bravo a cucinare
  • essere bravo + in + noun – Luca è bravo in cucina

In other words, we can say that bravo is used when someone has a talent, a skill, or is simply good at doing something.

Bravo has a secondary meaning too.

Bravo is also used to indicate the moral qualities of a person.

  • Una brava persona – a person with ethical values

Common Italian expressions using “bravo”

  • Che bravo! – well done!
  • Bravo! – well done!
  • Bravissimo – way to go!

When to use BELLO

Bello means nice if applied to something (a thing), or beautiful/ handsome if applied to someone (a person).

In short, bello indicates the appearance of something or the physical quality of someone.

  • Questo tavolo è così bello – This table is so beautiful 
  • Marta è una bellissima dona – Marta is a beautiful woman 

Intensifiers of bello

  • Molto bello, bellissimo – very beautiful, awesome, gorgeous 
  • strabello (colloquial) – super beautiful 

More examples with bello 

  • Quel palazzo è bellissimo – That building is gorgeous 
  • Che bella città! – What a nice city!
  • Che bella casa! – What a beautiful home!

Popular Italian expressions using “bello”

  • Che bello! – That’s lovely!
  • Bello! – Lovely!
  • Bellissimo – Awesome! 

BONUS for intermediate learners: do you that bello becomes begli, bei or bel sometimes? In this article, I will explain to you why. 

Bel? Begli? Bei? What do they mean? 

 

When to use BUONO

Buono means good and is used to give an opinion about the interior qualities of something or someone.

If a person is buona, we mean that this person has ethical qualities. 

  • Marco è buono – he is good-hearted or a person with good moral qualities  

If something is buono, we mean that this thing has a good quality.

  • Quella pasta è buona – That pasta is good
  • Questo prodotto è buonissimo – This product is very good 
  • Questo legno è buono – This wood is good

Intensifiers of buono

  • molto buono, buonissimo – very good
  • strabuono (colloquiale) – super good 

Popular Italian expressions using buono. 

  • Che buono! – It’s delicious! (when referring to food or drinks)
  • Buono a sapersi – good to know
What verbs use the subjunctive in Italian?

What verbs use the subjunctive in Italian?

The Italian Present Subjunctive: when and how to use it

When learning Italian, you’ll surely come across a few challenging topics. Among these, one of the most notorious is the Italian subjunctive mode. Rest assured. Although it might seem difficult to grasp, it’s easier than you think.

What is the subjunctive in Italian? 

The subjunctive is an Italian verb form used to express opinions, feelings, uncertainty, possibility, wishes, or doubts. 

When to use the subjunctive?

Most of the time, the subjunctive is used in a dependent clause and so after a main clause.

Main clauses vs. dependent clauses 

If you’re not familiar with the idea of the main clause and dependent clause, let’s have a look at it together. 

A main clause is a sentence like this: 

  • Penso che… (I think that)
  • Voglio che… (I want that)
  • Spero che.. (I hope that)
  • Sono felice che…(I’m happy that)

In other words, we can say that a main clause is a sentence that introduces another sentence to which it’s related. 

A dependent clause is what’s following the “che”

Let’s have a look at a couple of sentences where you can see a typical use of the subjunctive. 

  • Penso che (main clause),  l’Italia sia un Paese bellissimo (dependent clause with the subjunctive) – I think Italy is a beautiful country 
  • Spero che (main clause), che domani non piova (dependent clause with the subjunctive), successo negli studi (dependent clause) – I hope tomorrow it will not rain

Why is it important to use the subjunctive in Italian? 

Learning how to use the Italian subjunctive correctly means that you will be able to communicate your feelings, opinions, and wishes to the best of your ability.

When do you use the subjunctive in Italian? 

It’s easier than you think: the rule of thumb is that the use of the Italian subjunctive is determined by what comes before. 

Luckily, there’s a list of verbs and phrases that express opinions, wishes, doubts, feelings, and uncertainties that we can easily memorize. 

Once you learn that a certain verb, like “credo” or “penso” or “spero,” defaults to using the subjunctive (or congiuntivo, in Italian), it’ll become easier and automatic to use the subjunctive in the right place.

In the following lists, you’ll see the most common verbs or phrases that are naturally followed by a subjunctive in Italian.

Verbs typically used to express opinion, uncertainty, possibility, or doubt.
  • Pensare che – to think that
  • Credere che – to believe that
  • Immaginare che – to imagine that
  • Avere l’impressione che – to have the impression that
  • Supporre che – to suppose that
  • Dubitare che – to doubt that
  • Non sapere che – to not know that
  • Non essere sicuro che – to not be sure that
  • Non essere certo che – to not be certain that
Verbs typically used to express feelings, such as happiness or fear
  • Essere felice che – to be happy that 
  • Essere dispiaciuto/a che – to be sorry that
  • Avere paura che – to be afraid that
  • Temere che – to be afraid that
Verbs typically used to express wishes:
  • Volere che  – to want that
  • Desiderare che – to wish that
  • Preferire che – to prefer  that
  • Sperare che – to hope that
The subjunctive with impersonal verbs 

The subjunctive is frequently used after impersonal verbs, like the ones that don’t have an explicit subject. 

  • basta che…  – it is enough (that) . . .
  • bisogna che… – it is necessary (that)
  • vale la pena che…  – it is worth (that)
  • si dice che… – it’s said (that)
  • dicono che… – they say(that)
  • sembra che… – it seems (that)

Examples

  • Si dice l’Italia sia il più bel Paese al mondo – they say Italian is the most beautiful country in the world 
The subjunctive with impersonal expressions 

The subjunctive is frequently used after impersonal expressions. An impersonal expression is a phrase made of the verb “to be” and any adjective.

  • è bene che…  it is good (that)
  • è difficile che…- it is hard (that)
  • è facile che…- it is easy (that)
  • è giusto che…- it is right (that)
  • è importante che…- it is important (that)
  • è male che…- it is bad (that)
  • è meglio che…- it is better(that)
  • è necessario che…- it is necessary (that)
  • è peccato che…- it is a pity (that)
  • è possibile che…- it is possible (that)
  • è raro che…- it is rare (that)
  • è urgente che…- it is urgent (that) 

Examples

  • E’ raro che un bambino studi il cinese – it’s rare for a kid to study Chinese 
  • E’ possibile che Anna sia in ritardo – it’s possible that Anna is late

When impersonal expressions point out certainty, the indicative is used instead of the subjunctive. The following expressions require the indicative, for example. 

  • è certo che… – it is certain (that)
  • è evidente che… – it is evident (that)
  • è ovvio che che…  – it is obvious (that)

Examples 

  • è ovvio che mente– it’s obvious that he lies 
When is the subjunctive not required in Italian? 

All the above verbs and expressions require the subjunctive only when the subjects of the two phrases (main clause and dependent clause) are different, like in the following two phrases (where the subject of the main clause is “io” and the subject of the dependent clause is “lei”). 

  • Penso che lei sia molto intelligente – I think she’s very smart 
  • Sono felice che lei abbia superato l’esame – I am happy she’s passed the exam 

If the subject is the same in the main clause and in the dependent clause, we can’t use the subjunctive in the dependent clause. Instead, we would use an infinitive construction.

  • Lei pensa di essere molto intelligente  –  she thinks she’s very smart
  • Lei è felice di aver superato l’esame – she’s happy she has passed the exam
The Present Subjunctive  (Regular verbs)

The regular conjugation of the subjunctive is very easy because the first three persons (io, tu, lei) are the same and the “noi” conjugation is identical to the one of the present tense indicative.

PARLARE (-ARE verbs)RIDERE (-ERE verbs)Domire (-IRE verbs)
che io parl-Iche io rid-Ache io dorm-A
che tu parl-Iche tu rid-Ache tu dorm-A
che lui/lei parl-Iche lui/lei rid-Ache lui/lei dorm-A
che noi parl-IAMOche noi rid-IAMOche noi dorm-IAMO
che voi parl-IATEche voi rid-IATEche voi dorm-IATE
che loro parl-INOche loro rid-ANOche loro dorm-ANO


The Present Subjunctive (Irregular verbs)

I have been asked often in my classes, what is that SIA there? Or, what is that ABBIA there? What about VADA or FACCIA?

They are the irregular subjunctive conjugations of essere, avere, andare, and fare, in that order.

It’s crucial to learn the irregular Italian subjunctives as they are very common in the spoken language. Remember also that the verbs that are irregular in the indicative are also irregular in the subjunctive.

 This is a list of the most common irregular forms of the present subjunctive.  

  • essere → sia
  • avere → abbia
  • andare → vada
  • fare → faccia
  • dire → dica
  • dare → dia
  • volere → voglia
  • dovere → debba
  • potere → possa
  • tenere → tenga 
  • stare → stia 

Of course, there are more than these. For a more thorough list, I suggest referring to your grammar books. If you don’t have it yet, I recommend using this excellent textbook: Italian verb tenses. 

How many forms of the Italian subjunctive exist?

Is the present subjunctive the only subjunctive? No, but it’s the most common one. 

The Italian subjunctive is a mode made of four tenses: the present subjunctive, the past subjunctive, the imperfect subjunctive, and the past-perfect subjunctive. Knowing all these tenses will help you master the Subjunctive Tense Consistency (or Consecutio Temporum), which I will tackle in a different article. 

 In conclusion,

  1. Using the subjunctive is a sign of education. There are also native Italian speakers that misuse or don’t use the subjunctive correctly. You can tell they don’t have a high level of education. 
  1. Verbs that are irregular in the present indicative are also irregular in the present subjunctive.
  1. The use of subject pronouns (io, tu, lui, noi, voi, loro) is often required, as the first three persons of the conjugation are the same (io vada, tu vada, lui vada).

 

Lì and là? Qui and qua? Is there any difference between them?

Lì and là? Qui and qua? Is there any difference between them?

What is the difference between lì and là or qui or qua?

If you have ever felt confused about whether to use lì or là or qui or qua when speaking in Italian, this post is for you. 
 
Let’s get straight to the point…
 
Your question may be whether there is really any significant difference between lì and là or qui and qua?  The answer is “yes and no.” The truth is that difference is so negligible that, as a non-native speaker, you shouldn’t give it too much thought. 
 
However, if you’re interested in delving deeper, let go ahead and do it!
 

What is the difference between lì and là?

Both lì and là mean there. They indicate something which is far from the person who is speaking. The only small difference is that “lì” is more accurate than “là“. In other words, là means there, just like lì does, but in a less accurate way.

Let’s look at some practical examples:

  • Lì c’era una fontana una volta – what I’m referring to here is that there was a fountain in specifically there, and I’m probably pointing it out with my finger.
  • Là non c’era niente 20 anni – the point I’m making is that there was nothing 20 years ago somewhere there” (but not very specifically).
 
Common Italian Expressions with “La”

mettilo là/lì – put it there

là dentro, là fuori, là sotto – in, out

là dentro, là fuori, là sopra – in, out, up

più in là – further on (space), later on (time)

essere di là – to be somewhere else

What is the difference between qui and qua?

Both qui and qua mean here (in this place) and follow the same rule that applies to lì and là.

Qui indicates something close to the person that is speaking and is more accurate and specific than qua.

Let’s look at some practical examples:

  • Qui si mangia bene – I am probably referring to my place, my house (a smaller or more specific place).
  • Qua si mangia bene – I am probably referring to my city or country (a wider or more general place).
Common Italian expressions with “qui” and “qua”

vieni qui/qua – come here

mettilo qui/qua – put it here

qua/qui dentro – in here

qua/qui sotto – under here

Learn Italian the smart way with Serena’s stories

Do you know that there is a German-speaking region in Italy? Do you know that when hiking in the Dolomites, you can refuel at a local “malga“? And do you know what typical food in the Dolomites is like? If you don’t, you can learn everything about it in simple Italian by listening to and reading my short story “Due Amiche.”

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