100+ Basic Italian Words for Students Studying Abroad

Are you planning to study in an Italian-speaking country? Don’t worry we’ve got a basic Italian words’ guide for students going to study there. There are over 100+ Italian words listed in this article which can be useful for students for day-to-day conversations. Check out the article and refer to this guide for basic Italian words if you get stuck in a typical Italian conversation.

Learning Italian language for Indian students can be tricky. Based on language studies, it is said that Italian is difficult at first but gets easier as you advance. Some pronunciations in Italian can also be a challenge. Hence, to conquer all odds, students can begin their preparation by learning at least the language basics. You’ll get the basics of the Italian language along with other details in this article if you are planning to study in Italy. Check out 100 common Italian words for day to day use for international students. 

Why Learn Italian Language?

There are numerous reasons why you should consider learning the Italian language and they are as follows: 

• The Italian language is for food, art and music lovers. Thus, such enthusiasts can learn the Italian language.
• International students who are going to study in an Italian-speaking country (Italy, Switzerland or San Marino) should also learn Italian language words. 
• Students can also learn Italian language as a third language for a degree or for a job. 
• Adding language skills like Italian language proficiency can prove beneficial for job seekers abroad. 
• Finally, learning Italian can help people relate to Italian culture if they are interested to know about it and are intrigued by it. 

So, the reasons can vary with people based on their interests and choices as to why someone wants to learn Italian language. 

Check: 

• Top 10 Best Foreign Languages to Learn for Students
• How to Learn a New Language

Basic Rules of Italian Grammar for Students

There are a couple of rules of grammar that Italian language follows. These Italian grammar rules are as follows;

• Italian language grammar rules are similar to English grammar rules. 
• The Italian language technically has 21 letters. There are no “J’, ‘K’, ‘W’, ‘X’ and ‘Y’ alphabets in Italian.
• There is one silent alphabet that is, ‘H’ in the Italian language. 
• The basic sentences in the Italian language follow the SVO format, which is subject-verb-object. 
• The plurals in Italian language usually do not change their form or end with ‘i’ irrespective of masculine or feminine denotions.

When you learn a new language, you should always check out the basic rules of grammar. This way, it is easier for students to learn the language, which in this case is Italian. 

21 Alphabets in Italian Language

Before learning the basics, students must first learn about the Italian alphabet and its pronunciation. Following is a list of Italian words with their corresponding English sounds for a better understanding:

As already mentioned before, there are just 21 alphabets in the Italian language, and ‘H’ is silent in Italian. The pronunciations may or may not vary based on the area of residence for those enrolled in Italian universities.

1-20 Numbers in Italian Language

After understanding the Italian alphabet, let's get to the numbers in Italian. In Italian numbers are also essential to understanding time, and directions and being able to pay money. So, for day-to-day usage, you can check out how numbers in the Italian language are said:

Italian numbers are wonderfully regular, but you can see how after 10 they start fusing roots (e.g., dici- from dieci). To begin with, basic Italian numbers are introduced. However, those interested in learning more Italian numbers can proceed once their basics are clear. 

15 Everyday Italian Words for Use 

For basic greetings and asking one another about them, here’s a list of everyday use Italian words for beginners: 

Pro Tip: In Italy, if you don't know someone, it's best not to ask how they are or how they are doing. 

Remember, when you are travelling to study in Italy, Switzerland or San Marino you will need these words handy. You can just put the transcription on Google and get its exact pronunciation. 

7 Days of the Week in Italian Language

While not many English speakers may be found in Italian-speaking countries, here’s a list of Italian words for the days of the week: 

Pronunciations are provided for better understanding and usage by students.

List of 20 Verbs in Italian Language

In Italiano, verbs play equally an essential role for describing the action. Here’s a list of 20 commonly used verbs in Italian language along with their English meaning:

There are 140+ verbs in the Italian language and each of them are used across 21 tenses. All verbs in Italian language either end with - ‘ere’, ‘ire’ or ‘are’.

15 Commonly Used Adjectives in Italian Language

Adjectives in Italian language vary with singular use, masculine, feminine and plural usage. The following table lists the adjectives in Italian language with the variation in usage, plus pronunciations for a better understanding:

It is not always necessary that Italian adjectives change their form in plural form like for sad. Some adjectives in Italian may be used similarly for both masculine and feminine contexts like - good, big, interesting and others. Based on each type of verb, the Italian verb conjugations vary for different types of tenses. Thus, each verb has a different connotation based on the context of use. 

Questions in Italian Language

When students arrive in Italian-speaking countries, they may need some assistance. It can be either about getting a taxi or getting to their university or even to get a bottle of water. To ask for help, the following Italian question words can be used:

• Where? - dove?
• When? - quando?
• How? - come?
• Which? - quale?
• What? - cosa?
• Who? - chi?
• Why? - perchè?

Students can memorise these Italian question words so that if they get stuck somewhere, they at least know how to ask questions in Italian. 

Related Read: List of Basic Greek Words for International Students

Food Items in Italian Language

While Italian cuisine is a favourite among a lot of people, here are a few common food items that are Italian:

• Breads - Bruschetta / Focaccia 
• Pomodoro (tomato)
• Pasta - Penne / Spaghetti / Lasagna / Ravioli
• Risotto 
• Pizza
• Gelato 
• Tiramisu
• Caffè Espresso
• Cappuccino 

This is not an exhaustive list of Italian foods; there are more foods in Italy which can be found once you land there. 

This guide to Italian words for regular use and conversation is suitable for students studying in an Italian language-dominant country. Students will benefit from it and might not go wrong if they follow the pronunciation carefully.