Learn The Most Common Words In Italian: Articles, Nouns, Verbs, And More

The first step any language learner needs to take on their journey towards fluency lies in building up their vocabulary.

If you want to learn to be fluent in Italian and have daily conversations with Italian speakers, the first thing you need to do is learn some of the most common words in Italian

In this post, we’re going to help you build up your Italian vocabulary by sharing some common Italian words, their meanings, and a few important usage notes.  

12 Common Italian Articles To Learn 

An article is a short word that is paired with nouns. To use the common articles in Italian, you need to make sure that they match the gender and number of the noun.

The gender of the noun depends on the letter they end in. Most common words in Italian that are considered masculine end with an “o”, while feminine nouns end with an “a”.

Meanwhile, plural masculine nouns tend to end in an “i”, while plural feminine nouns end with an “e”. There will also be different rules regarding which article to use with a plural masculine noun, depending on what letter it starts with.

Here are the six most common words in Italian that are used as masculine and feminine articles with some usage notes. 

1. Il

English meaning: The

Usage notes: 

• Masculine, singular. 

• Place in front of a masculine noun that begins with a consonant.

2. L’

English meaning: The

Usage notes: 

• Masculine, singular.

• Place in front of a Todomasculine noun that begins with a vowel or an “h” 

3. Lo

English meaning: The

Usage notes: 

• Masculine, singular

• Place in front of a masculine noun that starts with:

  • An “s” followed by a consonant

  • A “z”

  • A “ps”

  • A “y”

4. La

English meaning: The

Usage note: Feminine, singular

5. L’ 

English meaning: The

Usage notes: 

• Feminine, singular

• If the feminine noun begins with a vowel

6. I

English meaning: The

Usage note: Masculine, plural

7. Gli

English meaning: The

Usage notes: 

• Masculine, plural

• If the masculine noun starts with a vowel or an “h”

• If the masculine noun starts with:

  • An “s” followed by a consonant

  • A “z”

  • A “ps”

  • A “y”

8. Le 

English meaning: The

Usage notes: Feminine, Plural

9. Un

English meaning: A/an

Usage notes:

• Before a masculine noun

• If the word begins with a vowel

10. Uno

English meaning: A/an

Usage notes: 

• Before a masculine noun

• If the word begins with a consonant

11. Una

English meaning: A/an

Usage notes:

• Before a feminine noun

• If the word begins with a consonant

12. Un’

English meaning: A/an

Usage notes: 

• Before a feminine noun

• If the word begins with a vowel or an “h”

79 Italian Nouns You Should Start Learning

After you’ve learned about and memorized those Italian articles, you need to move on to learning a few Italian nouns. A noun is a word that refers to a person, thing, place, or idea. Here are a few you should know.

1. Uomo

English meaning: Man

2. Donna

English meaning: Women

3. Persona

English meaning:  People

4. Bambino 

English meaning: Kid

5. Amico/a

English meaning: Friend

Usage Note: “Amico” if you are referring to a male, “amica” if you are talking about a female

6. Famiglia

English meaning: Family

7. Madre

English meaning: Mother

8. Padre

English meaning: Father

9. Sorella

English meaning: Sister

10. Fratello

English meaning: Brother

11. Marito

English meaning: Husband

12. Moglie

English meaning: Wife

13. Figlio

English meaning: Son

14. Figla

English meaning: Daughter

15. Capo

English meaning: Boss

16. Governo

English meaning: Government

17. Prodotto

English meaning: Product

18. Mondo

English meaning: World

19. Paese

English meaning: Country

20. Citta 

English meaning: City

21. Strada

English meaning: Road

22. Casa

English meaning: House

23. Sala

English meaning: Room

24. Ufficio

English meaning: Office

25. Bagno

English meaning: Bathroom

26. Cucina

English meaning: Kitchen

27. Posto

English meaning: Place

28. Porta

English meaning: Door

29. Aria

English meaning: Air

30. Luce

English meaning: Light

31. Sole

English meaning: Sun

32. Acqua

English meaning: Water

33. Mare

English meaning: Sea

34. Natura

English meaning: Nature

35. Albero

English meaning: Tree

36. Fiore

English meaning: Flower

37. Animale

English meaning: Animal

38. Fuoco

English meaning: Fire

39. Terra 

English meaning: Ground

40. Vento

English meaning: Wind

41. Caffè

English meaning: Coffee 

42. Birra

English meaning: Beer

43. Vino

English meaning: Wine

44. Scarpa

English meaning: Shoe

45. Camicia

English meaning: Shirt

46. Vita

English meaning: Life

47. Mente

English meaning: Mind

48. Voce

English meaning: Voice

49. Mano

English meaning: Hand

50. Piede

English meaning: Foot

51. Testa

English meaning: Head

52. Occhio

English meaning: Eye

53. Naso

English meaning: Nose

54. Bocca

English meaning: Mouth 

55. Macchina

English meaning: Car

56. Aereo

English meaning: Plane

57. Anno

English meaning: Year

58. Mese

English meaning: Month

59. Settimana

English meaning: Week

60. Giorno 

English meaning: Day

61. Tempo

English meaning: Time

62. Notte 

English meaning: Night

63. Ieri 

English meaning: Yesterday

64. Oggi 

English meaning: Today

65. Domani

English meaning: Tomorrow

66. Lavoro

English meaning: Job

67. Nome

English meaning: Name

68. Fatto

English meaning: Fact

69. Storia

English meaning: Story

70. Regione

English meaning: Reason

71. Festa

English meaning: Party

72. Gioco

English meaning: Game

73. Prova

English meaning: Test

74. Posizione

English meaning: Position

75. Recordo

English meaning: Memory

76. Politica

English meaning: Politics

77. Prezzo

English meaning: Price

78. Fame

English meaning: Hunger

79. Sete

English meaning: Thirst

8 Common Pronouns In Italian

Another important group of words to learn in Italian are pronouns. Pronouns are words that are used to replace nouns. Here are some common ones you need to know.

1. Io 

English meaning: I

2. Tu

English meaning: You

3. Lei

English meaning: You

Usage note: Formal version of “you”

4. Voi

English meaning: You

Usage note: When you are replacing a plural noun

5. Lui 

English meaning: He

6. Lei

English meaning: She

7. Noi

English meaning: We

8. Loro

English meaning: They

59 Common Verbs In Italian To Learn

Verbs are words that describe an action. So, if you want to form proper sentences in Italian, you need to learn a few common verbs.

1. Essere

English meaning: To be

2. Sono 

English meaning: I am

3. Sei

English meaning: You are

4. È

English meaning: He/she is

5. Siamo

English meaning: We are 

6. Siete

English meaning: You are

Usage note: Plural

7. Sono

English meaning: They are

8. Avere

English meaning: To have

9. Stare

English meaning: To stay

10. Fare

English meaning: To do/make

11. Avare

English meaning: To have

12. Potere

English meaning: To be able to

13. Volere

English meaning: To want

14. Dovere

English meaning: To have to

15. Parlare

English meaning: To speak

16. Dire

English meaning: To say

17. Vedere

English meaning: To see

18. Sapere

English meaning: To know

19. Comprare

English meaning: To buy

20. Mangiare

English meaning: To eat

21. Mettere 

English meaning: To put

22. Prendere

English meaning: To take

23. Sentire

English meaning: To sense

24. Ascoltare

English meaning: To listen

25. Andare 

English meaning: To go

26. Pensare

English meaning: To think

27. Venire

English meaning: To go

28. Dare

English meaning: To give

29. Trovare

English meaning: To find

30. Guardare

English meaning: To watch

31. Portare

English meaning: To bring

32. Tornare

English meaning: To come back

33. Cercare

English meaning: To look for

34. Aspettare

English meaning: To wait

35. Arrivare

English meaning: To arrive

36. Camminare

English meaning: To walk

37. Domandare

English meaning: To ask

38. Spiegare

English meaning: To explain

39. Mostrare

English meaning: to show

40. Giudicare

English meaning: To judge

41. Desiderare

English meaning: To wish

42. Vivere

English meaning: To live

43. Tenere

English meaning: to keep

44. Bere

English meaning: To drink

45. Chiedere

English meaning: To ask

46. Rispondere

English meaning: To answer

47. Conoscere

English meaning: To know 

48. Raggiungere

English meaning: To reach

49. Muovere

English meaning: To move

50. Ottenere

English meaning: To obtain

51. Ammettere

English meaning: To admit

52. Vendere

English meaning: To sell

53. Rompere

English meaning: To break

54. Discutere

English meaning: To discuss

55. Capire

English meaning: To understand

56. Aprire

English meaning: To open

57. Uscire

English meaning: To go out

58. Scrivere

English meaning: To write

59. Dormire

English meaning: To sleep

30 Common Italian Adjectives To Learn And Use

An adjective is a word that can be used to describe a noun. It describes a quality that the noun has or its state of being. 

Adjectives, like pronouns, need to agree with the name and gender of the noun they are describing. Also, in Italian, the adjective will come after the noun. This is different from English, where the adjective comes before the noun.

1. Conento

English meaning: Happy

2. Triste

English meaning: Sad

3. Alto 

English meaning: Tall

4. Basso

English meaning: Short

5. Bello/a

English meaning: Beautiful

Usage note: “Bello” for a masculine noun, “bella” for the feminine

6. Brutto

English meaning: Ugly

7. Caldo

English meaning: Hot

8. Freddo

English meaning: Cold

9. Buono/a

English meaning: Good

Usage note: “Buono” for masculine noun, “buona” for a feminine noun

10. Pulito

English meaning: Clean

11. Sporco

English meaning: Dirty 

12. Vecchio/a

English meaning: Old

Usage note: “Vecchio” for a masculine noun, “vecchia” for a feminine noun

13. Giovane

English meaning: Young

14. Grande

English meaning: Big

15. Poco/a

English meaning: Little 

Usage note: “Poco” for a masculine noun, “poco” for a feminine noun

16. Tutto/a

English meaning: All

Usage note: “Tutto” for a masculine noun, “tutta” for a feminine noun.

17. Ogni

English meaning: Each

18. Qualsiasi

English meaning: Any

19. Qualche

English meaning: Some

20. Certo/a

English meaning: Sure

Usage note: “Certo” for a masculine noun, “certa” for a feminine noun

21. Nuovo/a

English meaning: New

Usage note: “Nuovo” for a masculine noun, “nuova” for a feminine noun

22. Povero/a

English meaning: Poor

Usage note: “Povero” for a masculine noun, “povera” for a feminine noun

23. Nero/a

English meaning: Black

Usage note: “Nero” for a masculine noun, “nera” for a feminine noun

24. Bianco/a

English meaning: White

Usage note: “Bianco” for a masculine noun, “bianca” for a feminine noun

25. Impossibile

English meaning: Impossible

26. Normale

English meaning: Normal

27. Stupido/a

English meaning: Stupid

Usage note: “Stupido” for a masculine noun, “stupida” for a feminine noun

28. Interessante

English meaning: Interesting

29. Sottile

English meaning: Thin

30. Rapido/a

English meaning: Fast

Usage note: “Rapido” for masculine noun, “rapida” for a feminine noun

22 Common Italian Adverbs To Learn

An adverb is also a modifying word, so it tells you something about another word. Adverbs describe verbs, but they can also be used to describe a quality or state of being of an adjective or another adverb.

1. Fuori 

English meaning: Outside

2. Dentro 

English meaning: Inside

3. Sotto 

English meaning: Under

4. Davanti 

English meaning: In front

5. Dietro 

English meaning: Behind

6. Qui 

English meaning: Here

Usage note: When talking about a precise location

7. Qua 

English meaning: Here

Usage note: When talking about an imprecise location

8. Lì 

English meaning: There

Usage note: When talking about a precise location

9. Là 

English meaning: There

Usage note: When talking about an imprecise location

10. Via 

English meaning: Away

11. Lontano 

English meaning: Far

12. Vicino 

English meaning: Close

13. Più 

English meaning: More

14. Meno 

English meaning: Less

15. Solo 

English meaning: Only

16. Quasi 

English meaning: Almost

17. Poi

English meaning: Then

18. Adresso

English meaning: Now

19. Sempre

English meaning: Always

20. Prima

English meaning: Before

21. Dopo

English meaning: After

22. Forse

English meaning: Maybe

8 Italian Words For Asking Questions

You should also learn these eight words that you can use to ask questions in Italian. 

1. Chi 

English meaning: Who

2. Che 

English meaning: What 

3. Cosa

English meaning: What

4. Dove 

English meaning: Where

5. Quando 

English meaning: When

6. Come 

English meaning: How

7. Perché 

English meaning: Why

8. Quale 

English meaning: Which

Conclusion

After you’ve learned some common words in Italian, you can begin to start learning some common Italian phrases and even some Italian idioms. 

The best way to make sure that you learn how to properly use Italian words in conversation, however, is to work on word lists such as this one with an online native Italian-speaking tutor.

Going through them with a native speaker is a great way to ensure that you can better grasp the word’s meanings and uses and help prepare you for having daily conversations in Italian.