Panini, al fresco, latte, bolognese… There are many borrowed Italian words used in English. However, we don’t always pronounce them correctly and use them according to their original Italian meaning. As learners of Italian, it’s fascinating to see how Italian words used in English often get misinterpreted, mispronounced, or completely transformed. This blending of languages

When you first started learning Italian, you probably learned that, unlike in English, adjectives come after the noun they describe. However, there is more to Italian adjective placement than meets the eye. In fact, there are various adjectives in Italian that can either be placed after or before the noun, and which change their meaning

Do you know when to use un’, with the apostrophe, and when to use un, without the apostrophe? Un’ and un are both indefinite articles in Italian, and they’re easy to get mixed up if you’re a learner of the language. This is why it’s the topic of our latest episode of The Coffee Break

How confident are you with giving instructions, commands and advice in Italian? All of these require what is known as the imperative. The Italian imperative is essential to know for many everyday situations you may find yourself in. If you already know how to form the affirmative (positive) imperative (i.e. how to tell or advise

In everyday conversations, one important aspect of communication is knowing how to give commands, instructions, and suggestions. This is done using what is known as the imperative in Italian. If you’re new to the imperative, don’t worry, as we’re going to talk through what it is, when you use it, and how to form it.

The verb fare in Italian is incredibly versatile and frequently used. As you’ll know, its basic meaning is “to do” or “to make”. However, there are many set expressions using fare, which you should know to help you expand your range of expression in Italian. The Coffee Break Italian Show is a series of short,

Have you ever wondered why the plural of uovo (“egg”) is uova (“eggs”) in Italian? Or why “one man” is un uomo, but two men is due uomini? While plurals in Italian often follow regular patterns, there are a number of irregular plurals to watch out for. But don’t worry, as we’re here to guide

If you’re an Italian learner, you’ll know that there are some interesting pronunciation points that take a little getting used to. One of the key ones is understanding how to pronounce the letters C and G. This is because Italian has both a hard and soft C and G sound. The Coffee Break Italian Show

Do you know the difference between di and da? These two Italian prepositions are easily confused by learners of the language, but in this article we’re going to look at the most common uses of each of these prepositions in Italian so that you never confuse them again! The Coffee Break Italian Show is a

As a learner of Italian, you’ve probably already come across mi piace and mi piacciono. These are our two essential phrases for expressing likes and dislikes in Italian. However, these expressions work a little differently from the straightforward verb “to like” in English. This is why a common question we receive from our Coffee Break

Is there an easy way to know the gender of a noun in Italian? You probably already know from your experience with Italian that it is a language that has grammatical gender. Every noun in Italian is either masculine or feminine. Over time, you get to know what gender nouns are, the more you practise

“I’m sorry!” – a very common phrase in any conversation, but what is the best way to say sorry in Italian? There are many ways to say sorry, excuse yourself and ask for permission in Italian, and the one to choose will depend on the context. Not only is it useful to know what they

Have you ever found yourself tongue-tied when trying to pronounce the Italian sound gli? You’re not alone! Gli is considered one of the trickiest sounds to master in Italian, mainly because it’s not commonly found in many other languages. But there’s no need to worry, as there are some techniques that you can learn to help

How do we translate “the” into Italian? There are, in fact, seven options, and it depends on the grammatical gender (masculine or feminine) and the number (singular or plural) of the noun. The Coffee Break Italian Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations in which we demystify tricky Italian language topics. In the

There are many expressions in Italian that are used very often, but which you may have to think twice about before translating directly from English. If you want to say that you’re hungry, for example, it may take a while before it feels natural not to use the verb essere (“to be”). In this article

The verb avere was probably one of the first verbs you came across in Italian. Of course, its basic meaning is “to have”, but there are many useful everyday expressions that use avere in which the verb doesn’t translate as “to have”. The Coffee Break Italian Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations in which we demystify

Did you know that the English verb “can” can be translated into Italian in three different ways? Each of the three verbs brings its own twist to the concept of “can” – creating a painter’s palette of nuanced expressions! The Coffee Break Italian Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations in which we demystify

Going to a café can be a great opportunity to sit down and listen to one of our Coffee Break Italian podcasts with a nice cup of coffee or tea. In this article we’re talking about prepositions, so do you know which preposition you’d use in Italian to talk about going to a café or being

Italian is renowned for its smooth and lyrical sounds. One of the intriguing aspects of Italian pronunciation lies in its double consonants – or le doppie. In Italian, all consonants can be doubled (apart from the letter H). Even the double Q exists – soqquadro (“disarray”). The Coffee Break Italian Show is a podcast series

When you speak Italian, formality is more than just a grammatical nuance – it’s a cultural code that reflects our relationships and social contexts. The Coffee Break Italian Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations in which we demystify tricky Italian language topics. In the latest episode, Mark and Francesca delve into the