Vorrei un caffè, per favore.
I would like a coffee, please.
IPA /vorˈrɛi un kafˈfɛ per favoˈre/
Say it vor-RAY oon kaf-FEH, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Vorrei is the polite way to ask for something — much better than voglio with strangers.
16 lessons · pattern-first method
Speak Italian from lesson one.
Build your essential Italian speaking framework in 16 focused lessons — one small set of patterns, hundreds of real sentences, audio on every phrase and review that adapts to you.
One matrix, dozens of sentences
| parlare | mangiare | abitare | |
|---|---|---|---|
| io | parlo | mangio | abito |
| tu | parli | mangi | abiti |
| lui / lei | parla | mangia | abita |
| noi | parliamo | mangiamo | abitiamo |
| voi | parlate | mangiate | abitate |
| loro | parlano | mangiano | abitano |
Learn one row and you can say six sentences with every regular -are verb you meet.
How it works
Patterns first, terminology later
You learn a small number of high-value sentence patterns, then recombine them with new vocabulary. Grammar terms are explained only when they help you speak sooner.
Visual verb matrices
Every core pattern becomes a compact table you can reuse with dozens of verbs. See the system, not just the example.
Listen and repeat
Every phrase has audio at normal and slow speed, plus IPA and an English-friendly pronunciation hint.
Spaced review
Failed exercises and difficult words return at growing intervals, so effort goes exactly where it is needed.
Try it now
Useful Italian, ready in seconds
Three phrases from the course. Press play, repeat aloud, then press the slow button and repeat again.
Come si arriva alla stazione?
How do you get to the station?
IPA /ˈkome si arˈriva ˈalla statsiˈone/
Say it KOH-meh see ar-REE-vah AL-lah stah-TSYOH-neh
Parlo un po' di italiano.
I speak a little Italian.
IPA /ˈparlo um pɔ di italˈjano/
Say it PAR-loh oon POH dee ee-tah-LYAH-noh
A great sentence for your very first conversation.
The roadmap
16 lessons, one framework
The verb system comes first, then everything else grows around it. Later lessons constantly recycle earlier material.
Not started
The Italian Verb Engine
Learn the single most powerful pattern in Italian: the present-tense verb matrix. Say what you do, what you do not do, ask questions and talk about the past — from your very first lesson.
- 55 min
- 22 phrases
- 27 exercises
Not started
Meet, Greet and Introduce Yourself
Master the verbs essere, fare and stare, and handle your first real conversations: greetings, introductions, names, nationalities and jobs.
- 50 min
- 22 phrases
- 25 exercises
Not started
Wanting, Knowing and Liking
Say what you want, what you know and what you like. The verbs volere, sapere and the mi piace pattern open the door to real opinions.
- 50 min
- 22 phrases
- 25 exercises
Not started
Family, Time and Possession
Talk about your family, say what belongs to you, tell the time and move between yesterday, today and tomorrow — including your first -ere and -ire past tenses.
- 50 min
- 22 phrases
- 25 exercises
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The Three Regular Verb Families
Unlock all three regular verb families in the present tense, master spelling changes like gioco and giochi, replace nouns with lo, la, li and le, say ages with avere and count up to one thousand.
- 55 min
- 25 phrases
- 41 exercises
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Going, Coming and Completed Movement
Learn andare and venire in the present, then unlock the second half of the Italian past: the passato prossimo with essere, where the ending changes to match who moved. Say where you are going, where you came from and where you have been.
- 55 min
- 24 phrases
- 29 exercises
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Daily Routine and Reflexive Verbs
Talk about your normal day in Italian: wake up, get up, wash, get dressed and go to bed. Master reflexive verbs with mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si, the -isc verbs capire, finire, preferire and pulire, and the everyday commands Alzati! and Sbrigati!
- 55 min
- 24 phrases
- 30 exercises
Not started
What Exists, What Happens and How Often
Describe places with c'è and ci sono, say what there is and is not, talk about frequency, and make adjectives agree with colours.
- 50 min
- 20 phrases
- 25 exercises
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Calendar, Dates and Ability
Say the days, months and seasons, give the date and your birthday, make plans for specific days, and say what is possible or permitted with potere, si può and bere. Add the reflexive past: mi sono svegliato.
- 55 min
- 28 phrases
- 32 exercises
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Meals, Weather and Time Expressions
Talk about breakfast, lunch and dinner, describe the weather like an Italian, and handle two tiny words with huge power: fa for 'ago' and tra/fra for 'in' a period of time.
- 50 min
- 24 phrases
- 31 exercises
Not started
Prepositions, People and Requests
Move around with a, in, da, di, con, senza and per, talk about people with tonic pronouns, and make requests with dare, dire and dimmi, dammi.
- 50 min
- 22 phrases
- 25 exercises
Not started
Describing and Comparing
Describe people, places and things, then compare them: più... di, meno... di, meglio and peggio, with the vocabulary of appearance and quality.
- 50 min
- 20 phrases
- 25 exercises
Not started
Opinions, Travel and Connected Speech
Say what you think, agree and disagree politely, give reasons and results — and join short sentences into natural, connected speech about travel, holidays and the weather.
- 55 min
- 24 phrases
- 30 exercises
Not started
Plans and the Italian Future
Learn the futuro semplice: one set of endings for every verb, eight irregular stems to learn by heart, and the time markers that let you talk about tomorrow, next week and next year — plans, promises, predictions and meetings.
- 55 min
- 25 phrases
- 30 exercises
Not started
Polite Italian and Real-Life Problem Solving
Ask politely and fix problems in Italian: vorrei, mi piacerebbe and potrebbe, formal and informal requests, and the survival patterns you need in restaurants, hotels, stations, airports and pharmacies.
- 55 min
- 28 phrases
- 32 exercises
Not started
Complete Italian Speaking Challenge
The grand review and final assessment: the whole verb system, twelve real-life scenarios, and a completion checklist that shows how far you have come.
- 90 min
- 20 phrases
- 30 exercises
Who it is for
Made for busy beginners
This course suits you if you want to speak practical Italian quickly, prefer structure over random vocabulary lists, and can study in focused 45–60 minute sessions. No prior grammar knowledge needed.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need any Italian to start?
No. Lesson 1 assumes zero knowledge. You learn the verb system through one visual matrix and start building real sentences immediately.
Will I be fluent after 16 lessons?
No honest course can promise that. What you will have is a solid speaking framework: the core verb system, about 400 high-frequency words, over 300 practical phrases and the confidence to handle everyday situations.
How much time does each lesson take?
Plan for 45–60 minutes per lesson, plus short review sessions. The spaced-review system brings back difficult items at the right moment, so ten focused minutes a day go a long way.
How does the audio work?
Every word and phrase can be played at normal and slow speed. If local recordings are installed you hear those; otherwise your browser's built-in Italian speech synthesis is used. The text, IPA and easy pronunciation are always visible either way.
Do I need to create an account?
No. Your progress, favourites and review queue are stored only in your own browser. You can export them as a JSON file and import them on another device.
Is this course affiliated with any TV programme?
No. It is an independent course that uses well-known, general principles of intensive language learning: pattern matrices, a restricted core vocabulary and constant speaking practice.