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Spanish · Italian · for English speakers

Spanish vs Italian: which should you learn?

A side-by-side comparison of Spanish and Italian: how hard each is, how long it takes, where you can use it and who each suits.

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Updated · by the 4ToSpeak team

Spanish vs Italian at a glance

Spanish compared with Italian
FeatureSpanishItalian
Written inLatin alphabet (same as English)Latin alphabet (same as English)
Difficulty for English speakersClosest to EnglishClosest to English
Hours to working proficiencyabout 700about 700
Time at 15 minutes a day7.7 years7.7 years
Time at 30 minutes a day3.8 years3.8 years
Time at 1 hour a day1.9 years1.9 years
HelloHolaCiao
Thank youGraciasGrazie
Example sentence¿Dónde está la estación? (Where is the station?)Vorrei un tavolo per due. (I would like a table for two.)

Estimates for a native English speaker, following the US Foreign Service Institute’s groupings. Languages the Institute does not rank are placed beside their closest relatives. Your own pace will differ.

Choose Spanish if...

  • You want the widest everyday reach of any language an English speaker can learn quickly, and a base for Portuguese and Italian.
  • You will use it in Spain, Mexico, most of Central and South America, and large communities across the United States.

Watch out for: verb endings and the two verbs for to be (ser and estar) take practice.

Choose Italian if...

  • You want music, food, art and travel in Italy, with a spelling system that matches how words sound.
  • You will use it in Italy, Switzerland and San Marino, with communities around the world.

Watch out for: double consonants and verb forms need steady practice.

Pronunciation and grammar: what to expect

Spanish. It is one of the friendlier languages for English speakers. Many words look familiar, the spelling is regular, and you can say any word you can read. Verb endings and the two words for to be take practice, which is why we have you build and say whole sentences.

Italian. 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.

In both, the quickest fix for pronunciation is the same: hear a whole sentence, say it out loud and check how close you were. That is the loop 4ToSpeak runs on every sentence.

Which first, Spanish or Italian?

Spanish and Italian are close relatives, so a lot carries over. Learn one, and the second takes noticeably fewer hours than starting from scratch. Start with whichever you will use sooner.

If you cannot decide, start both for a week at 15 minutes a day. After seven days you will know which one you look forward to, and motivation matters more than the difference in hours.

Start Spanish or start Italian, both free with no card.

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FAQ

Questions, answered

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Is Spanish or Italian easier to learn?

Spanish and Italian are a close call for English speakers: both take about 700 hours to reach working proficiency, so pick by where you will use it. Difficulty is for native English speakers and follows the US Foreign Service Institute's groupings.

Should I learn Spanish or Italian first?

Learn Spanish first if you want the widest everyday reach of any language an English speaker can learn quickly, and a base for Portuguese and Italian. Learn Italian first if you want music, food, art and travel in Italy, with a spelling system that matches how words sound. Spanish and Italian are close relatives, so a lot carries over. Learn one, and the second takes noticeably fewer hours than starting from scratch. Start with whichever you will use sooner.

Can I learn Spanish and Italian at the same time?

You can, but their similarity makes them easy to mix up. Most learners do better by getting Spanish to a comfortable level first and then adding Italian, which will feel much faster.

How long does it take to learn Spanish compared with Italian?

At 30 minutes a day, Spanish takes about 3.8 years to reach working proficiency and Italian about 3.8 years. Holding a first simple conversation takes far less in either.

Related guides

More on Spanish and Italian

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