Italy Language: What Do They Speak in Italy?
The official language of Italy is Italian. In Italian, the country is called Italia. Italian is used in government, education, media and everyday life across the country.
🗣️ Language at a Glance
About the Italian Language
Standard Italian is based on the 14th-century Tuscan of Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio, chosen as the literary standard centuries before Italy existed as a state. When the country unified in 1861 only a small fraction of its population actually spoke Italian at home; schooling, military service and above all television spread it during the 20th century. It remains the international language of music, from allegro to piano to crescendo. Italian is a Romance language and, of all the major Romance languages, the closest to Latin in vocabulary. It is closely related to Spanish, French, Portuguese and Romanian. Within Italy itself, regional languages such as Sicilian, Neapolitan and Venetian are distinct enough that linguists classify them as separate languages rather than dialects of Italian.
The Latin alphabet: How Italian is Written
Italian uses a Latin alphabet of just 21 native letters; j, k, w, x and y appear only in loanwords. The match between spelling and sound is nearly perfect, which makes Italian one of the easiest major languages to read aloud. Doubled consonants genuinely matter: papa is the pope, while pappa is baby food.
Is Italian a Tonal Language?
No, Italian is not a tonal language. Its famous musicality comes from open vowels and syllables that almost always end in a vowel, not from meaningful pitch differences.
🗨️ Useful Italian Phrases
A few everyday phrases in Italian, written in a simple romanized pronunciation so you can read them aloud. Tones and exact sounds vary by region, so treat these as a starting point.
How Hard is Italian to Learn?
Italian sits in the US Foreign Service Institute's easiest category for English speakers, around 600 to 750 class hours. Reading comes almost immediately thanks to the phonetic spelling and shared Latin vocabulary; the effort goes into verb conjugation, grammatical gender and hearing the difference that doubled consonants make.
Language Tips for Visitors to Italy
The official language of Italy is Italian, which may be unfamiliar to many international travellers. While English speakers can often be found in larger cities and tourist-heavy areas, it is advisable to learn a few basic phrases before your trip. Locals greatly appreciate any effort to use the local language, even if imperfect. Simple greetings, thank-yous and asking for directions in Italian will go a long way. The country is officially known as Italia in Italian, and the international dialling code is +39.
🌍 Other Countries Where Italian is Spoken
Italian is not exclusive to Italy; it is also spoken in these countries:
Frequently Asked Questions about Language in Italy
What language do they speak in Italy?
The official language of Italy is Italian.
Is English spoken in Italy?
English is not an official language in Italy. The main language is Italian. English may be spoken in tourist areas.
What is Italy called in its own language?
Italy is called "Italia" in Italian.
What writing system does Italian use?
Italian is written in the Latin alphabet. Italian uses a Latin alphabet of just 21 native letters; j, k, w, x and y appear only in loanwords. The match between spelling and sound is nearly perfect, which makes Italian one of the easiest major languages to read aloud. Doubled consonants genuinely matter: papa is the pope, while pappa is baby food.
Is Italian a tonal language?
No, Italian is not a tonal language. Its famous musicality comes from open vowels and syllables that almost always end in a vowel, not from meaningful pitch differences.
How do you say hello in Italian?
"Hello" in Italian is "ciao / buongiorno".
Is Italian hard to learn?
Italian sits in the US Foreign Service Institute's easiest category for English speakers, around 600 to 750 class hours. Reading comes almost immediately thanks to the phonetic spelling and shared Latin vocabulary; the effort goes into verb conjugation, grammatical gender and hearing the difference that doubled consonants make.
How many official languages does Italy have?
Italy has one official language: Italian.
Do I need to speak Italian to visit Italy?
It is not required but learning basic phrases in Italian is strongly recommended and appreciated.
What is the calling code for Italy?
The international dialling code for Italy is +39.
What is the population of Italy?
Italy has a population of approximately 60.3M, all of whom use Italian as the official language.