Is Italian hard to learn?

Difficulty depends on how different a language is from your own. For a native English speaker, Italian falls in the closest to English band, which follows the US Foreign Service Institute's groupings of 24-30, 36, 44 and 88 weeks of full-time class. Languages the Institute does not rank are placed beside their closest relatives, so treat this as an estimate.

Fairly friendly for English speakers. Pronunciation follows the spelling closely. Verb forms and prepositions are the long part, and they stick better when you meet them in full sentences.

Languages in the same band include Spanish, Mexican Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch.

• Italian uses the Latin alphabet, so you can read and sound out words from day one.
• Motivation. A trip, a partner, a job or a show you love will carry you further than a small difference in difficulty.
• Speaking from day one. Sentences you say out loud stick far better than words you only read.
• Short daily practice. Consistency beats intensity.

Double consonants change the word in Italian. Pala and palla are different, so hold the doubled sound a little longer. Listening and repeating is how you hear that difference, and a speaking step makes you produce it.

Go deeper with most common Italian words, and useful Italian phrases.