thelernen logothelernen
Start for free
🇮🇹

Learn Italian Free 1000 Words That Actually Matter

Master the 1000 essential Italian words used in daily life, with correct articles (il, lo, la, l', i, gli, le), interactive audio and spaced repetition.

Start Learning Free →Browse Dictionary

Why learn Italian with these 1000 words?

💬

Italian is spoken by roughly 65 million people, mainly in Italy, Switzerland and San Marino. Instead of front-loading grammar, start with the vocabulary that actually shows up in daily conversation.

🔤

Every noun ships with its correct article (il, lo, la, l', i, gli, le), so you learn gender and agreement from the very first word instead of guessing later.

⚡

We curated the 1000 most vital words with authentic context sentences, audio pronunciation, and a spaced-repetition schedule that reviews words right before you forget them.

Where you will use Italian

🏙️

Relocation & Digital Nomad Life

  • •Navigate Milan, Rome and Turin
  • •Rent an apartment and talk to landlords
  • •Order at a bar or trattoria
  • •Handle bank accounts and codice fiscale
💼

Work & Study

  • •Communicate with local colleagues
  • •Understand permesso di soggiorno paperwork
  • •Follow lectures at Italian universities
  • •Handle daily office chatter
🍝

Travel & Culture

  • •Order confidently off any menu
  • •Chat with locals beyond tourist Italian
  • •Follow Italian films and music
  • •Ask for directions anywhere

10 essential Italian words

Everyday vocabulary with the correct article

la casahouse, home
il tempotime; weather
il giornoday
la vitalife
il mondoworld
l' amicofriend
la famigliafamily
il lavorowork, job
l' acquawater
la stradastreet, road
Browse all words →

How it works

A proven method to fluency in three simple steps.

🎯

1. Top 1000 Words

We focus exclusively on the high-frequency vocabulary that makes up 80% of daily conversations.

🧠

2. Spaced Repetition

Our smart algorithm calculates the perfect time for you to review each word, moving it to long-term memory.

🗣️

3. Practice with AI

Apply your vocabulary in real-world scenarios through interactive, voice-based conversations with our AI.

Frequently Asked Questions

We focus on the 1000 most frequently used words in the language, which make up about 80% of everyday conversations. By mastering these first, you can start communicating much faster.
Spaced Repetition System (SRS) calculates the perfect time for you to review a word just before you forget it. This moves vocabulary from short-term to long-term memory efficiently.
Yes! The core learning experience, including the 1000 words and basic SRS, is free. An optional PRO plan adds unlimited AI features, unlimited voice practice and removes ads.
Yes, you can try it as a guest. Your progress will be saved locally on your device. However, creating an account lets you save your progress in the cloud and use it across devices.
While fluency depends on many factors, mastering the core 1000 words usually takes 1-3 months of consistent daily practice (15-20 mins/day), giving you a solid conversational foundation.
Italian has no neuter gender, and the article changes with both gender and the sound the noun starts with: il ragazzo, lo studente, l'amico, la casa. Knowing the article is knowing the gender, so we attach the correct one to every noun — learning 'la casa' instead of just 'casa' saves you from relearning it later.
Instead of random sentences and gamified translation, we focus strictly on high-frequency vocabulary, spaced repetition, and real-time AI conversation practice.
Yes, an internet connection is required to sync your progress and use the AI pronunciation and conversation features.
Absolutely! TheLernen is a Progressive Web App (PWA). You can install it on your home screen and use it just like a native app.
PRO unlocks unlimited AI conversational scenarios, smart grammar explanations, and removes daily limits on speaking exercises. It's great if you want to practice speaking intensely.
When you struggle with a word or grammar concept, our AI tutor provides context-aware, tailored explanations, just like a human teacher would.

Start learning Italian today

Free to start. No registration or credit card needed.

Open App →

🇮🇹 Life in Italy — free guides

Step-by-step help with bureaucracy, documents and the vocabulary you actually need.

→Residence Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno)→Tax ID (Codice Fiscale)→Health Insurance (SSN)→Bank Account→Apartment Rental
All guides →
📖 Free guide

The 1000 most common Italian words

Read the full list →