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Lessons for English speakers

Learn to read Italian

A short, active path into reading Italian: decode real words from a small sound guide, learn where the endings and the verb sit, meet the past that fables are printed in, and read a whole fable before opening your first book.

13 core sections · ≈ 32 min + 3 optional lookups · ≈ 48 min with everything
15

A new reading: try it before revealing help

≈ 3 min
What you'll learn
  • This time the pronunciation and the English begin hidden.
  • Aim for the scene, not a perfect translation.
  • If a line feels scrambled, find the verb first and read its last letter.
  • This is the passage promised in the first section, one step longer.

A fox and a bird

Read each line aloud, say what you think happened, then reveal.

  1. Un giorno la volpe vide un grande uccello sull'albero.

    one day · the fox · the story past of vede · a big bird · on the tree

    Show answer +
    Un giorno la volpe vide un grande uccello sull'albero.oon JOR-noh lah VOHL-peh VEE-deh oon GRAHN-deh oot-CHEHL-loh sool-LAHL-beh-roh“One day the fox saw a big bird in the tree”
  2. «Buongiorno», disse la volpe. «Dove vai?»

    The speaker comes after the verb.

    Show answer +
    «Buongiorno», disse la volpe. «Dove vai?»bwohn-JOR-noh, DEES-seh lah VOHL-peh — DOH-veh vye““Good morning,” said the fox. “Where are you going?””
  3. «Vado nel bosco, perché ho fame», rispose l'uccello.

    nel splits into two words; ho fame is a state, not a possession.

    Show answer +
    «Vado nel bosco, perché ho fame», rispose l'uccello.VAH-doh nehl BOH-skoh, pehr-KEH oh FAH-meh — ree-SPOH-zeh loot-CHEHL-loh““I am going to the wood, because I am hungry,” answered the bird”
  4. «Vieni con me», disse la volpe. E l'uccello volò con la volpe, e ora ha un amico.

    volare is an -are verb, so its story past ends in -ò.

    Show answer +
    «Vieni con me», disse la volpe. E l'uccello volò con la volpe, e ora ha un amico.VYEH-nee kohn meh, DEES-seh lah VOHL-peh — eh loot-CHEHL-loh voh-LOH kohn lah VOHL-peh, eh OH-rah ah oon ah-MEE-koh““Come with me,” said the fox. And the bird flew with the fox, and now it has a friend”