A Guide to Italian Pronunciation for Native English Speakers
Why it’s Important To Practice Your Italian Pronunciation From Day 1 In over ten years of teaching Italian as a foreign language, I’ve noticed a number of patterns that are next to impossible to get rid of (or that take a great deal of time and work to...
Common expressions using ESSERE and AVERE
In Italian, the verbs essere and avere are certainly amongst the most popular ones. This is why they are widely used in many common Italian idiomatic expressions like the one following. Bear in mind that a certain number of recurring expressions use the...
Conoscere vs. Sapere: The Difference and How to Use Them
What’s the difference between “sapere” and “conoscere”? Although both “sapere” and “conoscere” translate to “to know” in English, in Italian they have distinct meanings and are rarely...
Direct Object Pronouns in Italian (Pronomi Diretti)
What’s a Pronoun? Pronouns are little words that help us avoid repeating the same nouns over and over. They make our speech quicker, smoother, and more natural—especially in conversation. Just like in English, Italian uses pronouns a lot. For example: I know it –...
How to Conjugate Italian Reflexive Verbs
What Are Reflexive Verbs in Italian?? Reflexive verbs (verbi riflessivi) are verbs that require a reflexive pronoun in their conjugation and their default form (the infinitive). For example: Divertirsi (to enjoy oneself): Ci divertiamo alla festa (We...About
Ciao! I'm Serena, and I'm the creator of Smart Italian Learning. I am the head teacher of a small language school. We offer online, in-person and video courses for Italian learners, with a focus on adult English native speakers. Our courses are based on our passion for teaching and our experience as long-term adult language learners. You can meet us online, or in person in Rome.