Italian Grammar Made Easy

#142: Phrases for Getting a Haircut in Italy

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we’re diving into essential phrases you need to know when visiting a hairdresser in Italy. Whether you’re planning a blowout or j...

#141: Italian Phrases to Use with Your Kids

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bilingualism in Italian enhances problem-solving, multitasking, creativity, and family bonds. Teaching Italian phrases to kids enriches connections an...

#140: Five Common Mistakes with Italian Prepositions

20 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Prepositions in Italian differ from English, often requiring memorization rather than logic. Highlighting mistakes helps us engage critically with the...

#139: How to Use the Italian Word "Più"

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In Italian, “più”, “di più”, and “in più” express “more” or “additional” but differ in context: comparisons, additional amounts...

#138: Twelve Italian Phrases for Emergencies

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Master twelve essential Italian phrases for emergencies in this podcast episode. From medical help to saying that you’re lost, ensure you’re prepa...

#137: Fifteen Interchangeable Italian and English Words

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we learn fifteen common English words that are used in Italian, but they do have Italian counterparts. Perfect for anyone looking to ...

#136: Seven Ways to Express Negation in Italian

23 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Italian offers various ways to express negation, allowing for nuances in meaning and emphasis. Understanding the various ways to express negation in I...

#135: Ten Food-Related Italian Expressions

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dive into ten idiomatic food-related Italian expressions that will enrich your Italian fluency. Discover how Italians use food words in everyday conve...

#134: How to Use the Word "Bello" in Italian

09 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, explore the versatile Italian word “bello” and its various applications. Learn how to use it in different contexts, from describi...

#133: Twenty-Five Italian Reciprocal Verbs

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Reciprocal verbs in Italian are used to express actions that two or more subjects perform mutually, indicating a reciprocal exchange. These verbs are ...

#132: Seven Ways to Say I Would Like in Italian

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Discover seven polite and effective expressions in Italian to convey “I would like”, perfect for travelers and language learners. Enhance your com...

#131: Italian Phone-Related Terms

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast episode explores essential Italian phone-related terms. It offers practical language tips for navigating conversations about mobile devic...

#130: Seven Ways to Express Likes in Italian

11 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this podcast episode, you’ll learn seven unique ways to express likes in Italian, going beyond basic vocabulary to explore more nuanced expressio...

#129: How to Use the Word "Permesso" in Italian

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

“Permesso” in Italian is a polite way to ask for permission, often used when entering a room or passing through a crowded area. It translates to “...

#128: Irregular Adjectives Ending in "-E"

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about irregular adjectives ending in “-E”. These adjectives do not follow conventional patterns. Mastering their usage will improve your Ita...

#127: Irregular Adjectives Ending in "-A"

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about irregular adjectives ending in “-A”. These adjectives deviate from standard patterns, reflecting grammatical nuances. Understanding ho...

#126: Words for Grocery Shopping in Italy

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we explore Italian grocery shopping. Shopping for food in Italy is a vital, culture-rich experience, including specialized stores, out...

#125: Irregular Italian "-Isc" Verbs

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Irregular Italian verbs ending in “-isc” present a unique challenge for learners. These verbs modify their stem or root in the present tense, devi...

#124: Irregular Verbs in the Future Tense

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Irregular verbs in the future tense don’t follow the standard rules applied to regular verbs, making their formation unique and sometimes unpredicta...

#123: Rentals in Italy: Key Words and Phrases

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When navigating Italy’s rental scene, knowing key phrases is important. Being familiar with Italian terms can streamline your rental process and hel...

#122: How to Use the Word "Anzi"

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In Italian, “anzi” is an adverb used to contrast a statement that precedes it, similar to the English “on the contrary” or “rather”. It’...

#121: The Difference Between "Guardare", "Vedere", "Sentire", "Ascoltare"

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Grasping the nuances of these Italian verbs is essential for clear communication. These verbs each express unique intentions, highlighting the subtle ...

#120: When to Use "E" and "Ed" in Italian

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson we cover the correct use of “e” and “ed” in Italian. This involves looking at the word that follows and then determining whethe...

#119: How to Make Small Talk in Italian

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, learn key words and phrases to make small talk, appropriate topics as well as topics to avoid to engage effectively with Italian speak...

#118: Ten Ways to Order Coffee in Italy

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Learn ten ways to order coffee in Italy, including proper terminology, the most common types of coffee, and how to get your espresso the exact same wa...

#117: How to Build a Complex Sentence in Italian

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Start learning Italian today!1. Download this episode's quick guide: https://italianmatters.com/1172. Download the Italian Verb Conjugation Blueprint:...

#116: Top Twenty Phrases for Your Trip to Italy

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we cover twenty essential phrases that can be incredibly useful for your trip to Italy. These phrases cover a range of situations you ...

#115: How to Use "Meglio" and "Migliore"

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Italian words “meglio” and “migliore” both mean “better” in English. However, they are not interchangeable. While the first one is an ...

#114: The Relative Pronouns "Che" and "Chi"

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The two relative pronouns “che” and “chi” are often confused in Italian. They look very similar and they can both be used to refer to people, ...

#113: How to Read Years in Italian

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Knowing how to read years in Italian is a great skill to have. In this lesson, we cover how to read years in Italian. Remember that we can’t separat...

#112: Italian Conditional Clauses: Type Three

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There are three types of conditional clauses in Italian. They are used to express certain hypotheses, possible hypotheses, or impossible hypotheses. T...

#111: The "Si Passivante" Construction

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The “si passivante” construction, called “passive si” in English, is used when we don’t want to specify the subject of the sentence. This co...

#110: Twelve Italian Phrasal Verbs

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with an adverb or a preposition. Italian has fewer phrasal verbs compared to English. In this lesson we cover twelve ...

#109: When to Use "Andare" and "Venire"

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we review when to use the verb “andare” and the verb “venire” in Italian. Both verbs involve movement from point A to point B,...

#108: How to Use the Word "Molto" in Italian

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this beginner-level lesson, we cover the very popular Italian word “molto”. This word has three different meanings and functions, and depending...

#107: Italian Past Tenses: Passato Prossimo and Trapassato Prossimo

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We can use many different verb forms to talk about the past in Italian. In this advanced lesson we focus on the passato prossimo and the trapassato pr...

#106: How to Use the Word "Anche"

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The word “anche” is very common in everyday Italian. In this lesson, we learn the correct pronunciation, position, and meaning of this important I...

#105: How to Use "Basta", "Abbastanza", and "Mi Basta"

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Italian words “basta”, “abbastanza”, and “mi basta” look very similar… But they have different meanings and uses depending on what w...

#104: "Tu" and "Lei": Informal and Formal Language

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this beginner-level lesson, we cover the main differences between informal addressing and formal addressing in Italian. Keep in mind that is always...

#103: Irregular Verbs Ending in "-Iare"

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we cover irregular verbs in the present indicative. These verbs belong to the “-iare” category and even though they are conjugated...

#102: Rude Expressions in Italian

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we cover ten rude Italian expressions. While these aren’t to be considered cuss words, they are indeed rude and we have to be carefu...

#101: Focusing Adverbs in Italian

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this advanced lesson we cover four focusing adverbs, called “avverbi focalizzanti” in Italian. Listen to the lesson and take the quiz below!Sta...

#100: Basic and Advanced Italian Words

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Want to level up your Italian in under ten minutes? In this lesson, we cover ten pairs of basic and advanced Italian words. Listen to the lesson and c...

#99: Stress Position in Italian Words

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you start your Italian language journey, it’s important to understand where to put the stress in Italian words. There is a specific rule in Ita...

#98: Plural Nouns in Italian That Are Singular in English

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While some words in Italian can be used in the same way in English, other words require a bit more attention. We cover five specific nouns in this les...

#97: Italian Verbs That Do Not Use Prepositions

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Literally translating across languages is usually not a good idea. In this lesson, we cover verbs that do not use prepositions in Italian, while they ...

#96: The Prepositions "Tra/Fra"

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson we learn how to use the Italian prepositions “tra/fra”. These two prepositions are completely interchangeable, and their main meani...

#95: The Gerund in Italian

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson we learn how to use the gerund. In English, this verb form ends in “-ing”. For example: reading, going, and speaking. In Italian, t...

#94: Seven Adjectives That Change Meaning Depending on Position

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson we cover Italian adjectives that change meaning depending on their position. If they are placed before a noun they have one meaning, if...

#93: The Preposition "In"

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this intermediate-level lesson, we learn the ten main uses of the preposition “in”. Make sure to check out all the other episodes that cover th...

#92: "Alla Fine", "Finalmente", "Infine" in Italian

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we learn the difference between three important Italian adverbs: “alla fine”, “finalmente”, and “infine”. Even though thes...

#91: The Preposition "Su"

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we learn the ten main uses of the preposition “su”. This preposition is often used together with definite articles, forming what w...

#90: Seven Expressions with the Verb "Prendere"

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this intermediate-level lesson, we learn seven common expressions with the verb “prendere”, which means “to take” and “to get” in Engli...

#89: Subject Pronouns in Italian

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Subject pronouns are one of the first grammar topics you should learn when studying Italian. A subject pronoun is the subject of a verb, that is the p...

#88: The Preposition "Con"

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Prepositions are a tricky part of the Italian language. In this lesson, we learn the ten main uses of the preposition “con”. Take the quiz below t...

#87: Fifteen Summer-Related Italian Words

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Learn fifteen summer-related Italian words! When learning new vocabulary it’s important to memorize the definite article along with the new words, e...

#86: The Difference Between "Da Un Anno", "Per Un Anno", "Tra Un Anno", "Un Anno Fa"

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this intermediate-level lesson, we cover how to use three prepositions and one adverb referring to time. These words can be easily confused, and th...

#85: The Preposition "A"

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we learn the ten main uses of the common Italian preposition “a”. After listening to the lesson and reviewing the guide, take the ...

#84: Fruits and Vegetables in Italian

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we cover twenty fruit-related words and twenty vegetable-related words. Make sure to repeat out loud to practice your Italian pronunci...

#83: Ten Expressions with the Verb "Stare"

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The verb “stare” can be translated in many different ways, for example “to stay” and also “to be”. In this lesson, we learn ten expression...

#82: Twelve Italian Phrases to Use at the Train Station

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson focused on traveling, we cover twelve useful phrases to use at the train station in Italy. This is your opportunity to speak Italian on...

#81: Five Italian Tongue Twisters

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this intermediate-level lesson, we learn five popular Italian tongue twisters. In Italian, we call tongue twisters “scioglilingua”, which liter...

#80: Fifteen Expressions with "Mangiare"

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we learn fifteen expressions with the Italian verb “mangiare”, in English “to eat”. These expressions are used a lot in spoken...

#79: Ten Survival Phrases for the Restaurant

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we cover ten survival phrases to use at a restaurant in Italy. If you know little Italian these phrases will be very helpful to make y...

#78: Sport Vocabulary in Italian

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this beginner-level episode, we learn thirty words referring to sports in Italian. Many of these words are the same in English, and that helps us a...

#77: Twenty Common Irregular Italian Verbs

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we learn twenty common irregular Italian verbs in the present indicative. These verbs belong to the “-are”, “-ere”, and “-i...

#76: Fifteen Spring-Related Italian Words

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode covers fifteen spring-related Italian words, along with their definite articles so that we know the gender of these words.Start learning ...

#75: Fifteen Verbs That Only Use "Essere"

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When using compound tenses in Italian, like the “passato prossimo”, we have to choose between the verbs “essere” and “avere”. In this less...

#74: Fifteen Hotel-Related Italian Questions

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we learn fifteen very useful questions to use at a hotel in Italy. Print the free guide for the questions and bring it with you to It...

#73: Ten Italian Friendship Phrases

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Learn ten common phrases related to friendship in Italian. Repeat these phrases out loud as you listen to the lesson to practice your Italian pronunci...

#72: Italian Family Vocabulary

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we cover all the Italian family vocabulary that you need to know. After this lesson, you’ll be able to describe your family in Ital...

#71: The Preposition "Di"

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we cover the ten main uses of the preposition “di”. Prepositions in Italian are one of the most difficult topics… But we make it...

#70: How to Use the Words "Bene" and "Buono"

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The words “bene” and “buono” are often confused by Italian learners. “Bene” is an adverb and it never changes based on gender and number. ...

#69: The Position of Adjectives in Italian

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, we learn the position of adjectives in Italian. The general rule tells us that adjectives usually come after the noun they refer to. H...

#68: Ten Expressions with the Verb "Dare"

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we cover ten expressions that use the verb “dare”, in English “to give”. Many of these are fixed expressions and can’t be l...

#67: Latin Words Used in Italian

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that there are Latin words still used in everyday Italian? In this lesson, we learn Latin words and expressions that are part of everyday...

#66: To Leave in Italian: "Uscire", "Partire", and "Lasciare"

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The verb “to leave” in English has three translations in Italian: “uscire”, “partire”, and “lasciare”. These three verbs have specific...

#65: Twenty Ways to Greet in Italian

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson, you will learn ten different ways of saying “hello” and ten different ways of saying “goodbye” in Italian. Practice your pronu...

#64: Fifteen Winter-Related Italian Words

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to build your Italian vocabulary! Listen to this podcast episode to learn fifteen winter-related Italian words with example sentences and ...

#63: The Preposition "Per"

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Prepositions in Italian aren’t easy… But we can make them simple here with a step-by-step Italian lesson! Listen to this episode to learn the ten ...

#62: How to Use the Verbs "Essere" and "Stare"

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Italian verbs “essere” and “stare” can be confusing for Italian learners because they both translate into “to be” in English. Listen t...

#61: Three Main Uses of the Word "Ecco"

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You might have heard the word “ecco” in Italian… But what does that mean? Listen to this lesson to understand the three main uses of “ecco” ...

#60: Opposite Italian Verbs

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A good learning strategy when memorizing new vocabulary is to focus on opposite words. In this lesson, we learn opposite Italian verbs and their pronu...

#59: How to Write an Email in Italian

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we learn how to properly write an email in Italian. This lesson covers both formal language and informal language, with the appropria...

#58: When to Use "Ora", "Tempo", and "Volta"

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The word “time” in English has three translations in Italian: “ora”, “tempo”, and “volta”. These three words are not interchangeable. ...

#57: The Verbs "Essere" and "Esserci"

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Do the Italian verbs “essere” and “esserci” have the same meaning? Not quite! The verb “esserci” uses the particle “ci”, which means “...

#56: Irregular Masculine and Feminine Nouns

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In Italian, usually nouns that end with the letter “o” are masculine, while nouns that end with the letter “a” are feminine. However, there ar...

#55: Opposite Italian Adjectives

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A good way to memorize new vocabulary is to focus on opposite words. In this episode, we focus on fifteen pairs of opposite Italian adjectives. Repeat...

#54: Verbs in "-Arre", "-Orre", and "-Urre"

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In Italian, we usually categorize Italian verbs based on three groups: verbs that end in “-are”, verbs that end in “-ere”, and verbs that end ...

#53: Homographs: Tricky Italian Words

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Homographs are tricky! Homographs are words that are spelled the same, but they are not necessarily pronounced the same way, and they have different m...

#52: Modal Verbs in Italian

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this intermediate lesson, we cover modal verbs. These verbs work differently compared to traditional verbs. In most cases, modal verbs are followed...

#51: Fifteen Most Used Italian Verbs

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learning words that are used most frequently in Italian is an effective strategy to accelerate your way to fluency. In this lesson, we cover fifteen o...

#50: "Andare A" or "Andare In"?

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Italian prepositions are tricky! In this lesson, we specifically focus on the preposition “a” and the preposition “in” with the verb “andare...

#49: Eight Uses of the Word "Prego"

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In Italian the word “prego” doesn’t just mean “you are welcome”. There are many other uses of this word, depending on context. Listen to thi...

#48: Pronominal Verbs Part 2

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This is part two of pronominal verbs in Italian. In this lesson, we cover pronominal verbs that use the pronouns “si”, “ne”, as well as “si”...

#47: Pronominal Verbs Part 1

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This is part one of pronominal verbs in Italian. In this lesson, we cover pronominal verbs that use the pronouns “ci”, “la”, as well as “ci”...

#46: Fifteen Uses of the Verb "Avere"

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The verb “avere” means “to have” in English. This verb is used for many different purposes in Italian. In this lesson, we cover fifteen uses o...

#45: Three Main Uses of the Subjunctive

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The subjunctive doesn’t have a good reputation in Italian. Yes, it is not easy… But you can learn how to use it! Start here with this episode and ...

#44: Adjectives to Describe Physical Appearance

18 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How can we describe people in Italian? In this lesson, we cover more than thirty adjectives that can be used to describe the face, the eyes, the nose,...

#43: Four Main Uses of the Word "Cioè"

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What is the meaning of the Italian word “cioè”? This word is quite versatile and can be used for different purposes. In this lesson, we cover the...