100+ Basic Italian Words for Students Studying Abroad
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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?
- Basic Rules of Italian Grammar for Students
- Alphabets in Italian Language
- Numbers in Italian Language
- Everyday Italian Words for Use
- Days of the Week in Italian
- List of 20 Verbs in Italian Language
- Adjectives in Italian Language
- Questions in Italian Language
- Food Items in Italian Language
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.
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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.
- Italian language technically has 21 alphabets. There are no “J’, ‘K’, ‘W’, ‘X’ and ‘Y’ alphabets in Italian.
- There is one silent alphabet that is, ‘H’ in Italian language.
- The basic sentences in Italian language follow the SVO format. Which is subject followed by verb and 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.
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Visa applicationAlphabets in Italian Language
Before getting to the basics, students must learn about the Italian alphabet and their pronunciations. Following is a list of Italian words with their corresponding English sounds for a better understanding:
| Italian Letter |
English Equivalent (Sound) |
|---|---|
| A |
‘Ah’ |
| B |
‘Bee’ |
| C |
‘Che’ (before A, E, O, U) / ‘Chi’ (before I) |
| D |
‘Dee’ |
| E |
‘Eh’ |
| F |
‘Effeh’ |
| G |
‘Ji’ (before E, I) / ‘Ghe’ (before A, O, U) |
| H |
(Silent) |
| I |
‘Ee’ |
| L |
‘Elle’ |
| M |
‘Emme’ |
| N |
‘Enne’ |
| O |
‘Oh’ |
| P |
‘Pee’ |
| Q |
‘Koo’ |
| R |
‘Erre’ |
| S |
‘Esse’ |
| T |
‘Te’ |
| U |
‘Oo’ |
| V |
‘Vi’ |
| Z |
‘Zeta’ |
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.
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:
| Numeral |
Numbers in Italian |
Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Uno |
/ˈuːno/ |
| 2 |
Due |
/ˈdue/ |
| 3 |
Tre |
/ˈtre/ |
| 4 |
Quattro |
/ˈkwattɾo/ |
| 5 |
Cinque |
/ˈtʃiŋkwe/ |
| 6 |
Sei |
/ˈsɛi/ |
| 7 |
Sette |
/ˈsɛtte/ |
| 8 |
Otto |
/ˈɔtto/ |
| 9 |
Nove |
/ˈnɔve/ |
| 10 |
Dieci |
/ˈdjeːtʃi/ |
Just for starters, basic Italian numbers are mentioned. But those who are interested in learning more numbers in Italian, can go ahead once their basics are clear.
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:
| English Words |
In Italian Language |
Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning/afternoon (until sunset) |
Buongiorno |
/bwɔnˈdʒorˈno/ |
| Good evening |
Buonasera |
/bwɔnaˈsɛːra/ |
| Good night |
Buonanotte |
/bwɔnaˈnɔtːe/ |
| Hello/Goodbye (informal) |
Ciao |
/tʃaːo/ |
| Nice to meet you |
Piacere |
/pjaˈtʃeːre/ |
| My name is... |
Mi chiamo... |
/mi/ /kjamo/ |
| How are you? (formal) |
Come sta? |
/koːme. /sta/ |
| How are you? (informal) |
Come stai? |
/koːme/ /stai/ |
| Where is...? |
Dove si trova...? |
/doːve/ /si/ /trɔva/ |
| Please |
Per favore |
/per/ /faˈvoːre/ |
| Thank you |
Grazie |
/ɡratːsje/ |
| You're welcome |
Prego |
/preːɡo/ |
| Excuse me |
Mi scusi |
/mi/ /skuːzi/ |
| Yes |
Sì |
/si/ |
| No |
No |
/nəʊ/ |
Pro Tip: In Italy, if you do not know someone, you must not ask someone 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.
Days of the Week in Italian
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:
| Italian |
English Meaning |
Phonetic Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| Lunedì |
Monday |
/luˈneːdi/ |
| Martedì |
Tuesday |
/marˈteːdi/ |
| Mercoledì |
Wednesday |
/merkoˈleːdi/ |
| Giovedì |
Thursday |
/dʒoˈveːdi/ |
| Venerdì |
Friday |
/veˈneːrdi/ |
| Sabato |
Saturday |
/ˈsaːbato/ |
| Domenica |
Sunday |
/doˈmeːnika/ |
Pronunciations are given for a better understanding and usage for students specifically.
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:
| Regular Verbs in Italian |
English Meaning |
|---|---|
| Essere - /ˈɛssere/ |
To be |
| Avere - /ˈavere/ |
To have |
| Vedere - /veˈdeːre/ |
To see |
| Bere - /ˈbeːre/ |
To drink |
| Volere - /voˈleːre/ |
To want |
| Parlare - /parˈlaːre/ |
To speak |
| Mangiare - /manˈdʒaːre/ |
To eat |
| Prendere - /ˈprɛndere/ |
To take |
| Sentire - /senˈtiːre/ |
To feel / to hear |
| Sapere - /saˈpeːre/ |
To know (facts, places and situations) |
| Dire - /ˈdiːre/ |
To say |
| Dovere - /doˈveːre/ |
Must / to have to |
| Fare - /ˈfaːre/ |
To do |
| Mettere - /ˈmɛttere/ |
To put |
| Capire - /kaˈpiːre/ |
To understand |
| Finire - /fiˈniːre/ |
To end/finish |
| Venire - /veˈniːre/ |
To come |
| Potere - /poˈteːre/ |
Can / to be able to |
| Andare - /anˈdaːre/ |
To go |
| Usare - /uˈzaːre/ |
To use |
| Conoscere - /koˈnoʃʃere/ |
To know (used for familiar people and places) |
| Stare - /ˈstaːre/ |
To stay |
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’.
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:
| Adjectives in Italian |
Masculine (Sing) |
Feminine (Sing) |
Plural (both m. and f.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bello (beautiful) |
Bello - /ˈbɛllo/ |
Bella - /ˈbɛlla/ |
Belli - /ˈbɛlli/ |
| Buono (good0 |
Buono - /ˈbwɔno/ |
Buona |
Buoni - /ˈbwɔni/ |
| Grande (big/large) |
Grande - /ˈgrande/ |
Grande |
Grandi - /ˈgrandi/ |
| Piccolo (small) |
Piccolo - /ˈpikkolo/ |
Piccola - ˈpikkɔla/ |
Piccoli - /ˈpikkɔli/ |
| Interessante (interesting) |
Interessante - /inteɾesˈsante/ |
Interessante |
Interessanti - /inteɾesˈsanti/ |
| Divertente (fun) |
Divertente - /diverˈtente/ |
Divertente |
Divertenti - /diverˈtenti/ |
| Gentile (kind) |
Gentile - /dʒenˈtile/ |
Gentile - /dʒenˈtile/ |
Gentili - /dʒenˈtili/ |
| Caro (expensive) |
Caro - /ˈkaːro/ |
Cara - /ˈkaːra/ |
Cari - /ˈkaːri/ |
| Felice (happy) |
Felice - /feˈliːtʃe/ |
Felice - /feˈliːtʃe/ |
Felici - /feˈliːtʃi/ |
| Triste (sad) |
Triste - /ˈtriːste/ |
Triste |
Triste |
| Facile (easy) |
Facile - /faˈtʃile/ |
Facile |
Facili - /ˈfaːtʃili/ |
| Vecchio (old) |
Vecchio - /ˈvɛkkjo/ |
Vecchia - /ˈvɛkkja/ |
Vecchi - /ˈvɛkki/ |
| Giovane (young) |
Giovane - /dʒoˈvaːne/ |
Giovane - /dʒoˈvaːne/ |
Giovani - /dʒoˈvaːni/ |
| Bravo (well done) |
Bravo - /ˈbraːvo/ |
Brava - /ˈbraːva/ |
Bravi - /ˈbraːvi/ |
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
So when students land in Italian-speaking countries, they may need some help. It can be either about getting a taxi or getting to their university or even to get a bottle of water. In order 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 can be used by students studying in an Italian language-dominated country. Students will benefit from it and might not go wrong if they follow the pronunciations carefully.
Initially Indian students may find it difficult to learn Italian language. But as and when they'll progress, they'll find the language easy to understand. Like any language, Italian also has a set of rules and exceptions. Thus, once students pace up their understanding, they'll advance easily.
Italian words are very different from English words. There is no similarity in even the basic words. However, in terms of grammar rules, there is a similarity between the two. Italian words have limited alphabets, while English has more alphabets. Thus, the Italian words do not match in all cases with English words for use.
According to a few unofficial sources, Istituto Marangoni acceptance rate is around 80%. This means that the institute is not too selective at the time of granting admissions. As per an unofficial source, about 67% of BA students at Istituto Marangoni are international. If the acceptance rate is considered to be around 80%, then it means that students having a good academic background and meeting all the requirements have a higher chance of getting admission.
International students who wish to study Masters Programs at MFI must submit the below documents:
· Application form
· Copy of degree certificate
· Copy of ID card or Passport
· A CV in European format
· Passport-size photos
· Motivation letter
· Copy of official transcript
The University of Bologna MS fees is around INR 1 L - 4 L for first-year, which vary by specializations for international students. The table below includes popular MS specializations at the university with first-year fees:
| MS Specializations | First-Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Master in Artificial Intelligence | INR 2.73 L |
| Masters in Civil Engineering | INR 2.96 L |
| Master in Advanced Automotive Engineering | INR 2.96 L |
Italy offers quality and world-class education to international students in many fields. Universities in Italy offer scholarships to international students to manage their studies and expenses each year. These are merit-based scholarships and students need to apply before the deadline. Check the list of other popular scholarships available for international students in Italy:
Scholarships | Amount |
|---|---|
Bologna University Scholarships | EUR 11,059 per academic year |
Padua International Scholarship Programme | EUR 8,000 per academic year |
Bocconi University Financial Aid | EUR 12,000 per year for Bachelor’s programme EUR 14,000 per year for the Master’s programme |
Politecnico de Milano Scholarship | EUR 5,000 to EUR 10,000 per academic year |
Italy is known for its fashion industries, however it also has some of the top MBA universities in the world. Students get advance infrastructure and upgraded curriculum, which is one of the best reasons to study MBA in Italy. Universities in Italy offer high-class education at an affordable tuition fee to students.
Latest Update on India-Italy Accord
The Union Cabinet has given post facto approval to the Migration and Mobility Agreement between Italy and India, enhancing people-to-people contacts, encouraging mobility of students, business people, skilled workers, professional trainings.
The noteworthy highlight of Agreement are given below:
- Indian students who want to attain initial professional experience, after completing academic / vocational training in Italy may be granted temporary residence in Italy for up to 12 months
- The Italian side has detailed provisions associated with Professional Training, Extracurricular Internships and Curricular Internships that allow Indian students / trainees to attain experience in Italian skill / training standards
- Also, Italy has reserved a quota of 5,000, 6,000, and 7,000 non-seasonal Indian workers for 2023, 2024, and 2025 under the current Flows Decree. In addition to this, Italy has reserved a quota of 3,000, 4,000 and 5,000 seasonal Indian workers for 2023, 2024, and 2025 under current Flows Decree
Check detailed information about Migration and Mobility Agreement between Italy and India from here.
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You can learn Italian language in your home country across its public or private universities and institutions. There are also online language classes which can be considered if uncomfortable taking classes in person. Finally, there is another option which is learning from YouTube for free of cost.