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6 Italian reading texts for A2, with translation

Short Italian texts for level A2: 6 stories, about 30 minutes of reading. Every sentence carries its English translation, and each text ends with comprehension questions. Read them right here — no sign-up needed.

Getting the codice fiscale

A2 · 5 min

Il primo documento importante in Italia è il codice fiscale.
The first important document in Italy is the tax code.

Senza codice fiscale non puoi firmare un contratto né aprire un conto.
Without a tax code you cannot sign a contract or open an account.

Serhij ha preso appuntamento all’Agenzia delle Entrate online.
Serhij booked an appointment at the tax office online.

Ha portato il passaporto e il modulo compilato.
He brought his passport and the completed form.

L’impiegata ha controllato i dati e ha fatto qualche domanda.
The clerk checked the details and asked a few questions.

"Come si scrive il suo cognome?", ha chiesto.
"How do you spell your surname?" she asked.

Dopo venti minuti Serhij aveva il suo codice su un foglio.
Twenty minutes later Serhij had his code on a sheet of paper.

È gratis, ma bisogna avere pazienza e arrivare in orario.
It is free, but you need patience and you must arrive on time.

Check yourself

  1. What can you NOT do without a codice fiscale?
    Show answer

    Sign a contract

  2. What did Serhij bring with him?
    Show answer

    Passport and a completed form

  3. How much does the codice fiscale cost?
    Show answer

    Nothing, it is free

Choosing a family doctor

A2 · 5 min

Anna ha mal di gola da tre giorni.
Anna has had a sore throat for three days.

In Italia si va prima dal medico di base, non in ospedale.
In Italy you first go to your family doctor, not to hospital.

Per averlo bisogna iscriversi alla ASL del proprio comune.
To get one you have to register with the local health authority.

Anna ha portato il codice fiscale e il permesso di soggiorno.
Anna brought her tax code and her residence permit.

Ha scelto una dottoressa che riceve vicino a casa sua.
She chose a doctor whose surgery is near her home.

La visita dal medico di base è gratuita.
The appointment with the family doctor is free.

La dottoressa l’ha visitata e le ha prescritto uno sciroppo.
The doctor examined her and prescribed a syrup.

"Se fra tre giorni non va meglio, torni", ha detto.
"If it is not better in three days, come back," she said.

Check yourself

  1. Where do you go first when you are ill in Italy?
    Show answer

    To the family doctor

  2. What documents did Anna bring?
    Show answer

    Tax code and residence permit

  3. How much does the visit cost?
    Show answer

    It is free

A job interview in a café

A2 · 5 min

Dariia ha visto un annuncio sulla porta di un bar: "Cercasi cameriera".
Dariia saw a notice on a bar door: "Waitress wanted".

Ha preparato un curriculum breve, di una pagina sola.
She prepared a short CV, just one page.

Il giorno dopo è tornata e ha chiesto del titolare.
The next day she came back and asked for the owner.

"Ha esperienza?", le ha chiesto lui.
"Do you have experience?" he asked her.

"Sì, ho lavorato due anni in un ristorante a Kyiv."
"Yes, I worked for two years in a restaurant in Kyiv."

"Il mio italiano non è perfetto, ma imparo in fretta."
"My Italian is not perfect, but I learn quickly."

Il titolare ha sorriso: "Qui si impara parlando con i clienti."
The owner smiled: "Here you learn by talking to the customers."

Ha proposto una prova di tre giorni, e Dariia ha accettato.
He offered a three-day trial, and Dariia accepted.

Check yourself

  1. Where did Dariia see the job advert?
    Show answer

    On a bar door

  2. What experience does she have?
    Show answer

    Two years in a restaurant in Kyiv

  3. How does the story end?
    Show answer

    She gets a three-day trial

Getting a digital identity

A2 · 5 min

In Italia quasi tutti i servizi online chiedono lo SPID.
In Italy almost every online service asks for SPID.

Lo SPID è un'identità digitale, come una chiave unica.
SPID is a digital identity, like a single key.

Serve per il fisco, per la sanità, per la scuola dei figli.
You need it for tax, for healthcare, for your children's school.

Mykola ha scelto un gestore e ha caricato i documenti.
Mykola chose a provider and uploaded his documents.

Poi ha fatto una videochiamata per il riconoscimento.
Then he did a video call for the identity check.

L'operatore parlava veloce e lui ha chiesto di ripetere.
The operator spoke fast and he asked her to repeat.

Dopo due giorni ha ricevuto le credenziali via email.
Two days later he got the credentials by email.

Ora prenota le visite mediche dal telefono, senza fila.
Now he books medical appointments from his phone, with no queue.

Check yourself

  1. What is SPID?
    Show answer

    A digital identity for online services

  2. How was his identity checked?
    Show answer

    By video call

  3. What can he do now?
    Show answer

    Book doctor's appointments from his phone

Converting a driving licence

A2 · 5 min

Kateryna guida da dieci anni, ma la sua patente non è europea.
Kateryna has driven for ten years, but her licence is not European.

Nei primi dodici mesi può guidare con la traduzione giurata.
For the first twelve months she can drive with a sworn translation.

Dopo, deve prendere la patente italiana.
After that she has to get an Italian licence.

Il suo Paese non ha un accordo di conversione con l'Italia.
Her country has no conversion agreement with Italy.

Quindi deve rifare sia il teorico sia il pratico.
So she has to redo both the theory and the practical test.

La parte più difficile è il vocabolario del quiz.
The hardest part is the vocabulary in the theory quiz.

"Precedenza", "carreggiata", "segnaletica orizzontale": parole nuove.
"Right of way", "carriageway", "road markings": all new words.

Kateryna studia i quiz in italiano tutte le sere.
Kateryna studies the quizzes in Italian every evening.

Check yourself

  1. How long can she drive on her old licence?
    Show answer

    Twelve months, with a sworn translation

  2. Why can't she simply convert it?
    Show answer

    No conversion agreement with her country

  3. What is hardest for her?
    Show answer

    The technical vocabulary of the quiz

The electricity bill

A2 · 5 min

La prima bolletta della luce è arrivata dopo due mesi.
The first electricity bill arrived after two months.

Era molto più alta del previsto: duecentoventi euro.
It was much higher than expected: two hundred and twenty euros.

Serhij ha letto la bolletta riga per riga.
Serhij read the bill line by line.

Il consumo non era reale, ma stimato.
The consumption was not actual but estimated.

Ha chiamato il servizio clienti e ha dato la lettura del contatore.
He called customer service and gave them the meter reading.

Ha aspettato al telefono ventisei minuti.
He waited on the phone for twenty-six minutes.

La bolletta successiva è stata corretta in meno.
The next bill was corrected downwards.

Da allora manda la lettura ogni mese, senza aspettare.
Since then he sends the reading every month, without waiting.

Check yourself

  1. Why was the bill so high?
    Show answer

    The consumption was estimated, not actual

  2. What did he do about it?
    Show answer

    Called and gave the meter reading

  3. What does he do now every month?
    Show answer

    Sends the meter reading himself

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