Time to study Italian animal words! Why?  Animals are beautiful, animals are funny, and animals are useful. In addition, they are a common conversation topic (think of pets, documentaries, and films with animals in them). But do you really need a reason to study animal words in Italian? Animal words are something that Italian children learn very early on when they first start speaking, and they’re equally essential for language learners to study—no matter their age. And, conveniently enough, many common animal names are similar across languages. Take, for example: ElephantLionTigerGiraffePandaKoalaKangarooPantherGorilla Do you want to give it a try and say the names of these animals in Italian? In any case, keep reading to... 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

Maybe you’ve already thought about taking an Italian proficiency test, or maybe you have no idea what we’re talking about. In this article, we’ll explain why it’s important to take an Italian test like this one, and we’ll guide you through everything you’ll need to do to sign up and pass the most widely accepted proficiency test (CILS). By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be totally prepared for the big day—even if this is your first time hearing about the test. Spoiler alert: You need to get started six months beforehand! Table of Contents What is a Proficiency Test? Why Take a Proficiency Test? What is the CILS Certification? How to Get Started What to Expect on the Day of the Test The CILS DUE-B2 Test ... Show more

Have you ever asked yourself how we learn our native language when we’re kids? We keep hearing and repeating the same simple sentences over and over. That’s the only trick!  As an adult, it works the same way: You memorize a sentence structure, then you start changing the elements a little, and in the end, you start making the sentences more complex. With this simple guide on forming sentences in Italian, we'll help you memorize the most basic and useful Italian sentence patterns; with those, you’ll be able to generate hundreds of natural sentences. And in no time, you’ll be holding complex conversations with ease and confidence. Table of Contents A is B: L’italiano è bello! Voglio imparare l’italiano con ItalianPod101.com! ... Show more

You asked, so we provided—easy-to-follow instructions on how to set up your electronic devices to write in Italian! We’ll also give you a few excellent tips on how to use this keyboard, as well as some online and app alternatives if you prefer not to set up a Italian keyboard. Table of Contents Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Italian Setting up Your Computer and Mobile Devices for Italian How to Activate an Onscreen Keyboard on Your Computer How to Change the Language Settings to Italian on Your Computer Activating the Italian Keyboard on Your Mobile Phone and Tablet Italian Keyboard Typing Tips How to Practice Typing Italian 1. Why it’s Important to Learn to Type in Italian Learning a new language is made so much... Show more

Verbs are everywhere! Whatever you’re trying to say or write in Italian, you’re going to need to use a verb and a subject. And guess what? Right there, you already need to conjugate the verb to use it correctly.  Vado al cinema. Vieni con me? Cosa dici?  "I go to the movies. Will you come with me? What do you say?" For example, in this simple sentence, you’ll have to know the conjugations of the verbs andare ("to go"), venire ("to come"), and dire ("to say"). Italian verb conjugation might seem tough at first, but with a few tips (and ItalianPod101’s resources), you’ll learn how to conjugate Italian verbs and become a real pro! Table of Contents What Does Conjugation Mean? Verb Groups Conjugation Examples ... Show more

Verbs are concepts in motion and are a fundamental part of every language. But how many Italian language verbs should you learn to speak the language properly? Here at ItalianPod101, we believe that with the following 100+ Italian verbs, you’ll be able to face most circumstances with ease. And don’t be scared—with our examples and definitions, you’ll be able to master this Italian verbs list quickly. It’s Italian verbs made easy with ItalianPod101!  But first, let’s take a look at Italian verb conjugation. Table of Contents Italian Regular Verbs Italian Irregular Verbs Reflexive Verbs in Italian Italian Verb Types & Their Meanings Italian Verb Placement in a Sentence ItalianPod101: A Great Source for Your Italian... Show more

Pronouns are one of the fundamental bricks in the majestic building of grammar. Basically, what they do is replace another word, allowing us to avoid repetition and making every language more agile, pleasant, and poetic. Italian pronouns are no exception.  A pronoun in Italian can replace:  A nounA predicative verbAn adjective There are many kinds of Italian pronouns, categorized by their function in a sentence. In this Italian pronouns lesson here on ItalianPod101.com, we’ll show you a list of all the most important ones, with their definitions and examples of Italian pronoun usage. It’s Italian pronouns, made easy! Table of Contents Italian personal pronouns Italian possessive pronouns Italian reflexive pronouns ... Show more

Do you remember the moment you fell in love with languages? Do you desire to learn or advance in Italian quickly and effectively? Then you need a Italian tutor. A common question that first-time language-learners ask is "Where do I begin?" The answer? Guidance. For native English-speakers who want to learn Asian languages, for example, timelines provided by the U.S. Foreign Service Institute can appear discouraging. However, defeating these odds is not unheard of. If you want to beat the odds yourself, one of the best learning options is a subscription to Premium PLUS from Innovative Language. As an active Premium PLUS member of JapanesePod101.com and KoreanClass101.com myself, I have an enjoyable experience learning at an accelerated... Show more

Are you traveling through Italy? Do you need to get to the Colosseum? Are you taking art classes in Florence? If you’re in Italy and you want to enjoy getting around and exploring new places, get ready to ask for directions in Italian with this quick and easy guide. No need for maps or GPS if you can get a little help from locals and practice your Italian in the process. In this article, I’ll be going over direction phrases in Italian, and will teach you words like "right" in Italian and much more! Table of Contents On the Map: Cardinal Directions in Italian On the Road: Street Directions in Italian Directions in Italian Using Landmarks Italian Phrases for Asking (Politely) for Directions Must-know Italian Phrases for... Show more