English If you’re like most people moving to Italy, chances are you arrived without really knowing the language. But sooner or later, learning Italian becomes a must, especially if you’re planning to stay long-term. Whether it’s dealing with bureaucracy, building real connections with locals, or just being able to handle emergencies or hospital visits, speaking the language really does make a big difference.
That said, it’s just as important not to stress about it. The good news is that living in Italy already gives you a huge advantage – you’re surrounded by the language every day, and that constant exposure helps you absorb it naturally, often without even realizing it.
Still, sometimes that alone isn’t enough. So we’ve put together our favorite tips to help you learn Italian faster – and, more importantly, in a way that actually works.
Do Language Apps Really Work?
These days, the first thing most people do when they decide to learn a new language is download apps like Duolingo. Actually, it could be a good starting point to pick up basic vocabulary. You’ll learn a lot of nouns, but not so much how to actually use them in real conversations.
Another app many expats recommend (besides Memrise) is HelloTalk. You can connect with people, post on a feed (a bit like Facebook), and chat using tools that help you with grammar, corrections, and understanding. There are also themed groups – some focus on pronunciation, others on vocabulary, and so on. It even includes a learning section.
In short: apps can be useful, especially early on, but they probably won’t be enough on their own to get you speaking confidently. In the next section, we’ll go over some other methods you can combine with them.
Yes, Grammar Matters
The problem with learning a new language is that most of us try to avoid grammar as much as possible. So we end up learning tons of vocabulary, but we don’t actually know how to connect the words and build a proper sentence. And when it’s time to have a real conversation, we freeze.
Here’s what I recommend: two things. First, immersion.
Find a tutor (you can easily find one on platforms like Superprof for as little as €10 an hour, or even on Preply) who can give you a structured plan – like “week 1: past tense, conditional, useful phrases etc.”
Then, create your own “Italian” environment.
It might sound silly, but trust me, it works. Love Italian music? Great. Set aside an hour or two each week where you study a topic while listening to it.
And to check your progress, ask ChatGPT to send you exercises with answers at the end – then just keep practicing. You’ll be surprised at how much it helps to build a solid foundation.
“The apps are good for learning some nouns. But if you want to learn verbs, sentence structure, and how words change with gender or tense, you really need to study and practice. I’m trying to learn regular verbs now, and there’s no way I could do it with just apps and TV shows. I have to put in the work. That said, TV shows help reinforce things – I start recognizing phrases and that gives me a boost.” – Richard P.
Everyday Life = Everyday Practice
As I mentioned earlier, living in Italy definitely helps, but only if you make a small, consistent effort to engage with the language. Try adding small daily habits that you normally do in English and start doing them in Italian instead.
Do you write your grocery list in English before heading to the store? Great, start doing it in Italian. Do you jot down your weekly to-dos in your planner or calendar? Switch those to Italian too.
It’s all about doing, in Italian, the little everyday things you unconsciously still do in your native language.
And if speaking makes you nervous or you’re unsure how to form a sentence? Prepare it in advance, memorize it, and use it in a real situation – whether you’re asking for directions, talking to the cashier or ordering a coffee. Even learning just a few phrases by heart helps. Later on, when you know more vocabulary, you’ll be able to tweak and reuse those same sentences in new contexts more easily.
Movies, Books and Music
You’ve probably heard this a million times, but watching Italian movies with Italian subtitles (not English!) really helps. In my experience, it’s great for pronunciation and honestly it even makes you more curious about the language. So even if you don’t understand every single word, the context helps you figure out what’s being said. And being able to follow the gist of a conversation is already a big win.
Try to stick to series or films without strong dialects, especially in the beginning. A lot of Italian tv series use Roman or Neapolitan dialects, which are beautiful and fascinating, for sure, but they can be confusing if you haven’t mastered standard Italian yet.
When you hear a phrase that sounds useful or is something you always struggle to say, write it down. Better yet, turn it into a flashcard. Aim for a list of 10 new words or phrases every few days and keep reviewing them.
If you’re looking to improve your speaking skills, many expats recommend Earworms Learning. It’s a program that uses music to help you learn – mixing English and Italian phrases over catchy background tracks. The idea is that, like your favorite songs or summer hits, the phrases stick in your head. It’s a low-effort way to learn while cooking, walking, or driving – basically, it taps into your “musical memory”.
Another tool people love is Lingopie. It connects with Netflix and offers different subtitle settings: no subtitles, subtitles in your native language, in Italian, or both. You can slow down the audio, pause just by hovering over the subtitles, and if you click a word, you get the translation – plus it automatically saves new vocabulary for you. For some learners, it’s the easiest way to pick up idioms and natural spoken Italian, especially when you’re not living in Italy.
And finally…children’s books. Yes, it might feel a bit silly at first, but they’re actually a great way to absorb grammar and vocabulary without feeling overwhelmed. Simple language, clear structure, and short stories – it’s an underrated method that works.
Helpful YouTube Channels & Podcasts
We’re in the podcast era, so let’s take advantage of it!
(And by the way, we’ve got one too, where we talk about all things expat life in Italy)
Many expats recommend Easy Italian, where everyday people are interviewed on the streets of Milan and other cities. They cover super practical topics (like food, work, cultural habits etc.) making it a great way to hear real, everyday Italian in context.
But if you’re looking for Italian YouTube channels that aren’t focused on language learning but still help with immersion, there are some great options out there.
Love travel? Check out Progetto Happiness – his videos are super engaging and often center around the interesting people he meets on his trips around the world. Another good one is Nicolò Balini, who shares his own travel adventures in a very relaxed, informal way. His style makes it easy to pick up casual and conversational Italian.
Into food? The channel “Cosa mangiamo oggi?” is definitely a good option. It’s a couple traveling both across Italy and beyond, trying out different restaurants (is there anything more Italian than that?). It’s not just entertaining but also a fun way to explore different regions and discover local food culture.
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