Do people actually study Italian?
Approximately 63 million people around the world speak Italian as their first language. It’s ranked as the 20th most-spoken language in the world.
That’s pretty high on the list when you consider that there are around 6,500 different languages spoken in the world today.
Learning Italian is beautiful
Italian is one of the most studied languages worldwide, in spite of a small population that speaks it as their native language.
Why do people learn Italian? Or, better, why should you like Italian?
As an Italian myself, if I were to pick one top reason to learn Italian, it would be because it’s beautiful.
If you ask anyone to name the most beautiful language in the world, quite a few would answer “Italian”.
The language of creativity
For hundreds of years, Italian was the language of intellectuals and artists.
As a result, Italian was fashioned by the people who needed it to express themselves creatively.
Writers and poets shaped their style and vocabulary over centuries, with beauty and sound as some of their primary considerations.
Variety of dialects
Each region of Italy (which didn’t even exist as a country) had its own dialect: Piemontese, Romanesco, Napoletano, Siciliano, and Lombardo, to name a few. But ultimately, it was Tuscan that prevailed.
Tuscany gave birth to the Renaissance and remains an epicenter of language, art, fashion, and tourism.
The language of music
The peculiarity of the Italian language lies in its musicality, its melodic and gentle being.
If you listen to Italian music to learn this beautiful language, choose the right Italian songs because some lyrics aren’t exactly what you’d say in real life.
By the way, even Italian swear words sound beautiful!
Throughout the world, Italian is renowned as one of the most loved languages there is.
Why learn Italian?
There are plenty of reasons to learn Italian:
Travel
From famous Roman landmarks to the rolling hills of Tuscany, to the canals of Venice, to the astoundingly gorgeous beaches of Cinque Terre, Italy is full of intoxicatingly gorgeous landscapes.
It abounds with fascinating history, great museums, delicious food, and so much more.
Basic Italian for travel includes giving directions, ordering at the restaurant, etc.
Food
My favorite of all the reasons to learn Italian!
Italy is a country known for its excellent wine and one-of-a-kind coffee tradition.
It’s no surprise that many passionate foodies decide to learn Italian.
Some of them want to learn to spin pizza dough alongside the best of the best in Naples.
Others just want to better understand the etymology behind their favorite dishes.
Opera
Many opera singers and opera aficionados choose to learn Italian.
During the Renaissance, Italy was the birthplace of the opera.
Italian is a lilting language that lends itself well to musicality.
Many of the most well-known operatic works were composed in Italian.
Opera lovers are sure to recognize many Italian names, such as Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, and Bellini.
Art
Imagine being able to read Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks without the help of a translator.
To understand the titles of great paintings like Botticelli’s Primavera (Springtime) as you make your way through museums, without pausing to consult a guide.
Literature
If you value the power of words and storytelling, you understand how valuable it can be to read a text in its original version.
You can read classic gems like Dante’s Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy) and modern works like Italo Calvino’s Le città invisibili (Invisible Cities) and Umberto Eco’s Il nome della rosa (The Name of the Rose).
Fashion
Did you know that many people consider Milan the fashion capital of the world?
You’ll find many up-and-coming fashion houses there, as well as classics like Armani, Versace, and Valentino.
Whether you want to work as a designer, a buyer, an art director, or even a model, speaking Italian can be hugely beneficial for your career in fashion.
History
Understanding Italian will allow you to understand primary resources from many fascinating eras throughout history.
What if you could read the correspondence of the Medici bankers of Florence from the 15th century?
With a language as old and storied as Italian, the possibilities for a curious history buff are endless.
Start learning Italian now
With so many good reasons to learn Italian, there’s no excuse for not starting today.
There are plenty of learning resources online to learn Italian for free.
Start learning Italian today!
