Graziana Filomeno

How long ci vuole to learn Italian? But wait — ci vuole or ci metto? And what does «mi ci metto» mean? These four expressions — ci vuole, ci metto, mi ci vuole and mi ci metto — look almost the same but have very different meanings. In this article we analyse them one by one, with practical examples and clear explanations.

When you think of Italy, coffee is one of the first things that comes to mind. But how did it get to Italy? Why do Italians drink it the way they do? And why, if you ask for «un caffè» in an Italian bar, do you always get an espresso and nothing else? In this article you will discover the entire history of coffee in Italy — from its African origins to the moka — and learn the vocabulary and curiosities that will make you shine in conversation with Italians.

Relative pronouns are one of the trickiest pitfalls of the Italian language, even for the most advanced students. In this article, we will analyze 5 very common mistakes, clearly explaining where the problem lies and what the correct form to use is. After this guide, your Italian will be much more natural and correct!

It is not always easy to objectively assess one’s own level of Italian. With this quiz you will be able to understand your real level — whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced — by testing your grammar, your vocabulary and the naturalness with which you use the language. A quick but effective test.

Inclusive language in Italian is one of the most debated and controversial topics in contemporary Italian. You come across it in newspapers, universities, and social media — and at the centre of the debate there is often an unusual symbol, the schwa, which most people had never seen before encountering this topic.

Have you ever said “Necessito un bicchiere d’acqua“ [I need a glass of water] or “Necessito di aiuto“ [I need help]? In reality, Italians don’t talk like that. The verb “necessitare” is extremely formal, bureaucratic, legal. In this article, you’ll discover why “necessitare” sounds strange and which expressions to use instead to speak in a natural and authentic way.