The Italian “Ci”: A Simple Guide
The use of ci can be tricky because in Italian, we use this one small word in various ways, each with different English equivalents. So, the particle “ci” doesn’t have a single fixed meaning; its meaning changes depending on the context. As with many...
How to Say “To Join” in Italian
If you’re learning Italian, you might have noticed that the English verb “to join” is tricky to translate directly, as it doesn’t have just one equivalent in Italian. Instead, several options exist, each depending on the context. Here are some of the most common...
Devo vs. Ho bisogno di: The Difference Simply Explained
No, they are not the same and they are not interchangeable. If you’re an English speaker, you might have been inclined to default “I need” to “Ho bisogno”, but this is often incorrect. The best translation of “I need” is...
How to Use the Expression ‘Mi tocca’
Toccare – to touch Have you ever heard or read the Italian sentence ‘mi tocca’ and felt confused about it? That’s normal! The verb ‘toccare’ is used with different meanings in Italian. ‘Toccare’ generally means ‘to...
9 Very Common Filler Words in Italian
Once I heard an American saying that we Italian can speak by making long sentences without saying a word. It was a joke, with a touch of irony. Italians do use a lot of filler words when they speak informally. What is a filler word? A filler...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.