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.
Reading
3 sectionsFirst reading with help: a bird loses its tree
- Read the Italian line first, then use the pronunciation and the English.
- Every word has appeared earlier on this path.
- Watch the two pasts share the work: venne moves, era describes.
- Then read it once more with the English covered.
Tika e Dara
C'era una volta un uccello in un grande albero.
CHEH-rah OO-nah VOHL-tah oon oot-CHEHL-loh een oon GRAHN-deh AHL-beh-roh
Once upon a time there was a bird in a big tree.
Si chiamava Tika.
see kyah-MAH-vah TEE-kah
It was called Tika.
Un giorno venne il vento, e l'albero cadde.
oon JOR-noh VEHN-neh eel VEHN-toh, eh LAHL-beh-roh KAHD-deh
One day the wind came, and the tree fell.
Tika era molto triste.
TEE-kah EH-rah MOHL-toh TREE-steh
Tika was very sad.
«Perché sei triste?» chiese Dara, la vecchia volpe.
pehr-KEH say TREE-steh — KYEH-zeh DAH-rah, lah VEHK-kyah VOHL-peh
“Why are you sad?” asked Dara, the old fox.
«Non ho una casa», rispose Tika.
nohn oh OO-nah KAH-zah, ree-SPOH-zeh TEE-kah
“I do not have a house,” answered Tika.
«Vieni con me», disse Dara. «La mia casa è piccola, ma è buona».
VYEH-nee kohn meh, DEES-seh DAH-rah — lah MEE-ah KAH-zah eh PEEK-koh-lah, mah eh BWOH-nah
“Come with me,” said Dara. “My house is small, but it is good.”
L'uccello andò con la volpe. Ora Tika ha un amico.
loot-CHEHL-loh ahn-DOH kohn lah VOHL-peh — OH-rah TEE-kah ah oon ah-MEE-koh
The bird went with the fox. Now Tika has a friend.
Three delayed recalls
Try them before revealing.
- bosco
Show answer +Hide answer −
boscoBOH-skoh“wood” - volpe
Show answer +Hide answer −
volpeVOHL-peh“fox” - disse
Show answer +Hide answer −
disseDEES-seh“said”