If you read even a small excerpt of Pinocchio in Italian, you will notice something interesting: the richness of verb tenses. Italian storytelling relies heavily on precise tense interaction. For example: Pinocchio si rese conto che aveva sbagliato. Here we see: Passato remoto ( si rese conto ) Trapassato prossimo ( aveva sbagliato ) The trapassato expresses an action that happened before another past action. This tense layering creates narrative depth. 🔎 Grammar Hint: Con

Even with Google Maps, you may need to ask: Mi scusi, dov’è la stazione? Come posso arrivare al centro? Notice the reflexive verb: Arrivare (to arrive) Arrivarsi ❌ (incorrect) People might answer: Deve girare a destra. Prosegua sempre dritto. Notice the use of imperative forms in instructions. 🔎 Grammar Hint: The Imperative (Formal and Informal) Informal: Gira a destra. Formal: Giri a destra. The formal imperative uses the same form as the subjunctive present . This is wh

One of the first things I notice when American students speak Italian is this: They say “io” before almost every verb. Io vado al lavoro.Io penso che è difficile.Io voglio imparare. And grammatically? It’s not wrong. But in Italian, it sounds heavy. Why This Happens In English, the subject is always necessary: I go You think She wants Without it, the sentence is incomplete. But Italian verbs already contain the subject inside them. Vado → I go Penso → I think Voglio → I

Many students feel pressure to describe their vacation using complex past tenses. But you don’t need advanced grammar to talk about your summer. Start simple. Ad agosto sono andata al mare.Ho passato una settimana in Toscana.È stato bellissimo. Grammar hint: The passato prossimo is perfect for vacation stories. Structure: avere/essere + past participle Ho mangiato , sono andata , abbiamo visitato Notice that movement verbs often use essere : Sono andato/a al mare. Even with

Founded in 1963, Lamborghini is another icon from Northern Italy. These cars are dramatic, angular, and visually striking. You might hear: È una macchina incredibile. Costa tantissimo. Grammar Hint Notice the use of adverbs : Molto Tantissimo Italian often intensifies meaning through repetition or suffixes. For example: bellissimo velocissimo If you'd like to practice travel and transportation vocabulary in real conversation, we work on that in lessons too. 👉 Book your Itali

One of the clearest signs that a student is moving from beginner to intermediate is when they start saying: Penso che è difficile. Grammatically understandable.But not fully correct. In Italian, after expressions like penso che , credo che , spero che , we use the congiuntivo (subjunctive). So the correct sentence is: ✅ Penso che sia difficile. Why This Is Hard English doesn’t consistently use a subjunctive form in everyday speech. So intermediate learners often default to t

Family plays a central role in Italian culture. Even today, many Italians stay closely connected to their parents, grandparents, cousins, and extended relatives. Sunday lunch ( il pranzo della domenica ) is almost sacred in many homes. Food is important — yes — but conversation is even more important. You might hear: Andiamo dai nonni. Mia madre prepara la pasta. Stiamo tutti insieme. Family vocabulary in Italian is rich and precise: Nonni (grandparents) Cognato (brother-in

When people think about the invention of the telephone, they usually remember one name: Alexander Graham Bell. But many Italians proudly remember another name — Antonio Meucci . Antonio Meucci was born in Florence in 1808. He was an inventor, engineer, and dreamer. In the mid-19th century, he moved to the United States, where he continued experimenting with electrical communication. His goal was simple but powerful: he wanted to create a device that would allow him to communi

If you analyze Sanremo lyrics, you’ll notice something interesting: they are rich in emotional vocabulary. Words like: paura solitudine libertà ricordi Italian songwriting relies heavily on metaphor and nuance. For example: Anche se fa male… Nonostante tutto… These connectors allow singers to express vulnerability and contrast. Sanremo songs often feel like confessions — and that’s why Italians connect so deeply to them. 🔎 Grammar Hint: Concessive Clauses Sanremo lyrics freq

February is a month about emotion — love, celebration, connection. And in many ways, learning a language is also about connection. Many people wait for the “right moment” to start learning Italian. But the right moment is often simply when you decide to begin. You don’t need to know everything.You don’t need to feel ready.You don’t need to speak perfectly. You just need to start. Language is not about perfection. It’s about expressing yourself — even if your sentence is sim

Pesto originates from Genoa, Liguria . It’s traditionally made using a mortar ( mortaio ), not a blender. 🧂 Ingredients (for pasta for 4 people) 50 g fresh basil 30 g pine nuts 50 g Parmigiano Reggiano 20 g Pecorino 1 clove garlic 100 ml olive oil Salt 🍝 Preparation Crush garlic and salt in a mortar. Add basil slowly. Add pine nuts. Mix in cheeses. Add olive oil gradually. Toss with freshly cooked pasta. Grammar Hint Notice quantity expressions: Un chilo di pasta Un po’ di

Top 10 songs 1- TIZIANO FERRO - BUONA (CATTIVA) SORTE 2- CHARLIE CHARLES - CALIPSO (FEAT. DARDUST, SFERA EBBASTA, MAHMOOD & FABRI FIBRA) 3- THE KOLORS & ELODIE - PENSARE MALE 4 - J-AX - OSTIA LIDO 5- ELISA FT CARL BRAVE - VIVERE TUTTE LE VITE 6- TORMENTO FT J-AX - ACQUA SU MARTE 7- THEGIORNALISTI - MARADONA Y PELÉ 8- JOVANOTTI - NUOVA ERA (FEAT. DARDUST) 9- MARCO MENGONI - MUHAMMAD ALI 10- LIGABUE - POLVERE DI STELLE

Italian Food Etiquette - Rules You Need to Know before going to Italy! Order courses for lunch and dinner in Italy Appetizers Pasta Meat / Fish Salad Fruit Dessert Coffee Ammazzacaffe (Grappa or Amaro) Breakfast Forget eggs and bacon or sausages for breakfast except possibly in a hotel that caters to American or English tastes. Cappuccino and brioche are one of the few options. You can choose a yogurt, tea, melba toast with nutella or jam or cookies. Lunch and Dinner No butte