So, you want to learn Italian fast? Maybe you’re dreaming of sipping espresso in a sun-drenched piazza while effortlessly chatting with the barista. Or perhaps you're planning a romantic getaway and want to impress your amore with something more than just “Ciao, bella.”
Learning Italian doesn’t have to be a slow, textbook-driven process. With the right approach, tools, and a bit of passion (and maybe even a passionate Italian partner—but more on that later), you can start speaking Italian velocemente!
From the best apps and books to immersive experiences, let’s dive into the most effective ways to fast-track your Italian learning journey.
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1. Best Apps to Learn Italian
Language-learning apps are like a personal tutor in your pocket—ready whenever you have a few minutes to spare. Whether you’re commuting, waiting in line for a gelato, or procrastinating actual work, these apps make it easy to sneak in some Italian practice every day.
📱 Mango Languages
Why It’s Great: Mango is an underrated gem in the language-learning world. It uses real-life conversations, color-coded sentence structures, and native-speaker audio to help you develop practical speaking skills. Plus, it teaches cultural insights, so you don’t just learn the words—you learn how to use them naturally.
Best For: Learners who want a structured, conversation-based approach with strong grammar explanations.
Standout Feature: Their unique color-coded sentence breakdowns make learning sentence structures intuitive and easy.
📱 Babbel Italian
Why It’s Great: Babbel is one of the best apps for grammar—which, let’s be honest, is essential when dealing with Italian verbs (hello, passato prossimo vs. imperfetto confusion). Lessons are short, practical, and designed for real-life conversations. Plus, the built-in speech recognition helps fine-tune your pronunciation.
Best For: People who like a structured, lesson-based approach with bite-sized grammar explanations.
Standout Feature: Babbel tailors lessons based on real-life scenarios, like ordering food, making small talk, or (importantly) flirting in Italian.
📱 Duolingo
Why It’s Great: Ah, Duolingo—the green owl that will not let you forget to practice. While it’s not the most comprehensive app for serious learners, it’s fantastic for building a daily habit. The gamified approach keeps learning fun, and the short exercises help you reinforce vocabulary and sentence structure without feeling overwhelmed.
Best For: Absolute beginners and casual learners who want a fun, low-pressure way to start Italian.
Standout Feature: The streak system and competitive leaderboard keep you motivated (because losing to your best friend in Duolingo is simply not an option).
Which App Should You Choose?
Want a structured, grammar-focused approach? → Go with Babbel.
Prefer conversation-based learning with cultural insights? → Try Mango Languages.
Just want a fun way to stay engaged? → Stick with Duolingo.
Using a combination of these apps will give you a well-rounded learning experience, helping you build vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and master tricky Italian grammar rules faster.
2. Best Books to Learn Italian
While apps are great for practice, nothing beats a good old-fashioned book to solidify grammar and vocabulary. I was so excited when I got my first Italian book!
📖 “Italian Made Simple” by Cristina Mazzoni
Why It’s Great: A fantastic starting point with grammar explanations, exercises, and vocabulary in digestible chunks.
Buy It Here: Amazon
📖 “Practice Makes Perfect: Italian Verb Tenses” by Paola Nanni-Tate
Why It’s Great: Italian verbs can be tricky, but this book simplifies conjugations with clear explanations and tons of practice exercises.
Buy It Here: Amazon
📖 “Barron’s 501 Italian Verbs”
Why It’s Great: If you want to sound fluent, you need to master Italian verbs. This book is the ultimate reference guide for conjugating like a pro.
Buy It Here: Amazon
3. Take an Online Course
Sometimes, you need a bit more structure (and maybe a live person telling you No, you can’t just say ‘parlo italiano’ for everything). Online courses provide interactive lessons, personalized feedback, and a sense of accountability.
💻 Riviera Dreamer’s Live Beginners Italian Crash Course
Why It’s Great: A fun and engaging live class where you get to practice speaking in real-time with a group. Perfect if you need motivation and accountability.
Best For: Those who want live interaction and personalized coaching.
Sign Up Here: Riviera Dreamer’s Course *mention code AMBY10 to save 10%
4. Date an Italian (Seriously, It Works)
Now, I’m not saying you should move to Italy just to find an Italian lover (though, honestly, I wouldn’t blame you). But dating someone who speaks Italian is one of the fastest and most natural ways to learn the language.
I speak from experience—when I fell in love with Marco, a Napoletano, our relationship also became a bilingual exchange program. In the beginning, we only understood about 30% of what the other person was saying. Two and a half years into our relationship, (we're married now!) we understand each other about 95% of the time lol. Speaking Italian daily with Marco helped me improve my vocabulary, pronunciation, and confidence. At the same time, I helped him with his English. It was a win-win.
If you’re already dating an Italian, make an effort to speak their language as much as possible. If not, well… maybe it’s time for a romantic Roman holiday? Just saying.
5. Move to Italy (Or Try to Immerse Yourself in Italian Culture Daily)
Want to move to Italy? Get my free PDF guide to help make your dreams a reality.
If you truly want to master Italian fast, immersion is key. That doesn’t mean you have to pack up and move tomorrow (though, again, not a bad idea). But surrounding yourself with the language makes a massive difference.
Talk to Locals: In Napoli, I make it a habit to chat with my local baristas every morning. I started with simple conversations like “Come stai?” and made it a habit to remember their names. Now when I walk into the bar, I am greeted with "We! Amby! Ttappò!?"(a very warm Napoletano greeting.) Ordering Coffee in Naples, Italy: A Crash Course in Espresso Etiquette
Watch Italian TV: Shows like Il Commissario Montalbano or L'Amica Geniale will introduce you to authentic Italian dialogue. You can listen in Italian and have English subtitles, and then gradually work your way up to Italian subtitles as you get more fluent.
Listen to Italian Music & Podcasts: Play Italian music in the background and follow along with lyrics. Podcasts like Coffee Break Italian are great for passive learning.
6. Take an In-Person Italian Class
Sometimes, there’s no substitute for a traditional language school. If you’re serious about learning Italian, taking a structured course in person will accelerate your progress.
🏫 NaCLIPS in Napoli
Why It’s Great: The school that I went to! I took an intensive course, followed by private lessons, and it skyrocketed my learning. It also gave me a sense of structure and community while I began my life abroad.
Exclusive Discount: Mention the code "Amby25" when booking for a special discount.
Sign Up Here: NaCLIPS Napoli
Other well known in-person Italian schools include:
Final Thoughts: Learn Italian Fast and Have Fun Doing It!
Learning Italian isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary—it’s about experiencing the language. Whether you’re using apps, reading books, taking classes, or flirting with an Italian (for educational purposes only, of course), the key is consistency.
The more you immerse yourself, the faster you’ll learn. So, go ahead, order that espresso, book that flight, and start speaking Italian with confidence.
And who knows? Maybe learning Italian will lead you to your own love story. 💕
Buona fortuna e buon viaggio! ✨
Un bacio,
Amby
P.S. Want my 2 Week Southern Italy itinerary? Get the guide here.