Proverbs are pearls of wisdom, sometimes coined by famous individuals but more often of anonymous origin. Some proverbs go back to the beginning of humanity itself, and although they sound a bit old sometimes, they always have a practical application in everyday life and can help us deal with complicated situations.  In general, proverbs tend to transmit popular wisdom in a very concrete way. They often stand out for their irony, their colorful comparisons, and their funny tones and metaphors. Italian proverbs are an important part of the language, because...  ...Italians use them often in conversations....they belong to a shared body of knowledge....they typically denote specific cultural traits of the country.  That last... Show more

Tutte le strade portano a Roma. ("All roads take you to Rome.") If you plan to visit Italy, you might as well start in the nation’s political and cultural capital. Another popular saying—Roma, città eterna ("Rome, the eternal city")—sums up its unique historical importance and beauty. Rome is a multilayer city with immense artistic treasures and historical architectures that will make you dream of walking through the Ancient Roman Empire, the Baroque and Renaissance periods, and everything in-between. Before you plan a visit to Rome, though, you’ll have to do your research. And that’s where we come in. In this article, you’ll learn what to expect and where to go for the best experience!  Rome, Eternal City Table of... Show more

Languages are influenced by a variety of factors, and words often travel from one language to another by way of loans, borrowings, translations, and general misuse. Some languages, including English and Italian, have had more of an influence on the world than others and are widely used (and misused) the world over. Italian has been influencing other languages, especially English, for a rather long time. This influence mainly appears in the fields of music, food, and science.  Today, there are also several English words used in Italian. This English influence on Italian is more recent, resulting from the huge influence that British and North American culture have had on our old continent in the last few centuries. Italians have borrowed... Show more

Culture is a broad concept encompassing all things relevant to a certain group.  If you’re studying the Italian language or planning to visit Italy, it’s extremely important to understand their habits, traditions, and ways of thinking. This is where our Italian culture overview comes in! We’ll inform you about Italians' social behaviors, education, beliefs, arts, laws, and everything else that’s considered important in Italy. Essentially, we’re giving you the key to the soul of the Italian people. As you’ll soon see, culture is everything! But what makes Italian culture unique? Well, Italy has been the heart of the Roman Empire and the seat of the Catholic Church, as well as the meeting point of many Mediterranean civilizations. This... Show more

Quotes are the perfect way to go deeper into the cultural wealth of a language. They give us a clear vision of people's philosophy, mindset, history, and popular culture. This means that by studying Italian quotes, you’ll not only be able to better understand the people around you and better express yourself, but you’ll also be able to explore Italian culture at a deeper level. In this article, we’ll go through the most commonly used Italian quotes, from sayings about love to words of traditional wisdom. Table of Contents Quotes About Success Quotes About Life and Wisdom Quotes About Love Quotes About Family and Friends Quotes About Food Dante’s Quotes L’importante è finire! 1. Quotes About Success ... Show more

Did you land the perfect job in an Italian design firm? Do you want to start expanding your business in Italy? Are you applying for a job in Rome and need to update your CV and interviewing skills with the proper Italian business language? We know that workplaces, job interviews, and starting a new job can be stressful. And what about talking on the phone with a client or boss? Not to mention the art of writing the perfect email or a convincing CV. Now imagine having to manage all of this in Italian...  If you want to succeed in any of these activities, you’ll need to master the basic Italian business phrases and vocabulary. Let’s do business with style! But don't worry! We’ve put together this practical guide on how to... Show more

The best way to learn a new language is by immersing oneself in that language and culture.  Have you already browsed through the huge library of audio and video lessons on ItalianPod101? We provide a variety of content that will help you learn Italian grammar and vocabulary, improve your comprehension skills, and discover new cultural insights.  But did you know that as you learn Italian, YouTube can be another great tool? Yes! And the ItalianPod101 YouTube channel is the best place to study Italian on YouTube. It’s easy, it’s fast, and it’s fun! Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate learner, or an advanced student, you’ll find many videos suited to your needs:  Live streamsVocabulary and grammar lessonsVideos that focus on... Show more

When you’re meeting someone for the first time or joining a new group, it’s normal to worry about what you’re going to say. While one can argue that the entirety of a conversation is important, there are two key elements that are crucial to making a good impression: the beginning and the end. Lucky for you, we’ve already written a great article about how to say hello in Italian—and today, we’ll show you how to say goodbye in Italian, too!  If you’ve been keeping up with our blog, you’ve probably been practicing how to greet people, introduce yourself, exchange pleasantries, and talk about the weather. But what do you say when it’s time to leave?  There are many ways to give an Italian goodbye, each suited to a specific context. In this... Show more

In this article, we’re going to dismantle some common misconceptions about learning a new language, with a focus on Italian. We’ll start with a big question: "Is Italian hard to learn?" Table of Contents Is Italian a Difficult Language to Learn? (Spoiler…the answer is "No") What are the Hardest and Easiest Parts of Learning Italian? This is Why Learning Italian is Easy! Here’s Why Italian is Hard to Learn I Want to Learn Italian. Where Should I Start? Why is ItalianPod101 Great for Learning Italian? Conclusion 1. Is Italian a Difficult Language to Learn? (Spoiler…the answer is "No") So, you’ve finally decided to jump into learning a new language, and your first choice is Italian (a great choice, by the... Show more

Conversation isn't a one way street. Hopefully, it is more like a tennis match: you ask something, get an answer and ask another question, you answer and ask something else, and so on. Questions are the fundamental building blocks to getting to know someone, establishing common ground, finding out something new or interesting and, simply, getting the flow of conversation going. Questions in Italian follow no particular pattern—no word order inversion, and no adding of extra words. You simply change your intonation and make it sound like a question. For example, Sei matto! ("You are crazy!") Sei matto? ("Are you crazy?") Just a little change in the punctuation (and in the intonation) here makes all the difference. And then, of... Show more