🇮🇹 Italian vocabulary

The 300 most common Italian words

Learn these first: they make up a big share of everything you'll read. Ranked by frequency, with meanings and examples for the top 50.

Test your Italian vocabulary Italian phrases

#	Italian	Meaning	Type
1	e Pane e vino. — Bread and wine.	and	conjunction
2	non Non lo so. — I don't know.	not, no	adverb
3	che Penso che tu abbia ragione. — I think you're right.	that, which; what; than	conjunction
4	di Sono di Roma. — I'm from Rome.	of, from	preposition
5	la La casa è grande. — The house is big.	the (fem.); her, it	determiner
6	il Il treno è in ritardo. — The train is late.	the (masc.)	determiner
7	un Ho un cane. — I have a dog.	a, an (masc.); one	determiner
8	a Vado a Milano. — I'm going to Milan.	to, at, in	preposition
9	per Questo è per te. — This is for you.	for, through, in order to	preposition
10	è Lei è molto simpatica. — She's very nice.	is (essere)	verb
11	in Abito in Italia. — I live in Italy.	in, into	preposition
12	una Vorrei una pizza. — I'd like a pizza.	a, an (fem.); one	determiner
13	mi Mi piace il gelato. — I like ice cream.	me, to me, myself	pronoun
14	sono Sono stanco. — I'm tired.	I am; they are	verb
15	ho Ho fame. — I'm hungry.	I have	verb
16	si Come si chiama? — What's his/her name?	oneself, himself, herself; one (impersonal)	pronoun
17	ha Ha due figli. — She has two children.	has	verb
18	ma È piccolo, ma carino. — It's small, but cute.	but	conjunction
19	lo Lo conosco bene. — I know him well.	him, it; the (masc. before s+cons., z)	pronoun
20	cosa Cosa fai stasera? — What are you doing tonight?	thing; what	noun
21	con Vieni con me? — Are you coming with me?	with	preposition
22	no No, grazie. — No, thanks.	no	adverb
23	le Le chiavi sono sul tavolo. — The keys are on the table.	the (fem. pl.); to her, them	determiner
24	ti Ti amo. — I love you.	you, to you, yourself (informal)	pronoun
25	se Se piove, resto a casa. — If it rains, I'll stay home.	if, whether; oneself	conjunction
26	da Vengo da Napoli. — I come from Naples.	from, by, at (someone's place); since	preposition
27	i I bambini dormono. — The children are sleeping.	the (masc. pl.)	determiner
28	come Come stai? — How are you?	how; like, as	adverb
29	io Io sono Marco. — I'm Marco.	I	pronoun
30	ci Ci vediamo domani. — See you tomorrow.	us; there; each other	pronoun
31	hai Hai tempo? — Do you have time?	you have (informal)	verb
32	questo Questo libro è bellissimo. — This book is wonderful.	this	determiner
33	bene Sto bene, grazie. — I'm fine, thanks.	well, good, fine	adverb
34	qui Vieni qui! — Come here!	here	adverb
35	sei Dove sei? — Where are you?	you are (informal); six	verb
36	del Vuoi del caffè? — Do you want some coffee?	of the, some (di + il)	preposition
37	tu E tu, come ti chiami? — And you, what's your name?	you (informal)	pronoun
38	solo Ho solo cinque euro. — I only have five euros.	only, just; alone	adverb
39	mio Mio fratello vive a Torino. — My brother lives in Turin.	my, mine (masc.)	determiner
40	al Andiamo al mare. — Let's go to the seaside.	to the, at the (a + il)	preposition
41	me Questo è per me? — Is this for me?	me (stressed)	pronoun
42	tutto Va tutto bene. — Everything's fine.	all, everything	pronoun
43	te Penso sempre a te. — I always think about you.	you (stressed, informal)	pronoun
44	era Era una bella giornata. — It was a beautiful day.	was	verb
45	della La porta della cucina è aperta. — The kitchen door is open.	of the (fem.)	preposition
46	mia Mia madre cucina benissimo. — My mother is a great cook.	my, mine (fem.)	determiner
47	fatto Ho già fatto i compiti. — I've already done my homework.	done, made; fact	verb
48	fare Cosa vuoi fare oggi? — What do you want to do today?	to do, to make	verb
49	essere Voglio essere felice. — I want to be happy.	to be	verb
50	so Non so dove sia. — I don't know where it is.	I know	verb
51	quando	when	conjunction
52	sì	yes	adverb
53	ora	now; (noun) hour	adverb
54	lei	she, her; (Lei) you (formal)	pronoun
55	gli	the (masc. pl.); to him	determiner
56	ne	of it, of them, some	pronoun
57	questa	this (fem.)	determiner
58	detto	said	verb
59	va	goes (va bene = OK)	verb
60	perché	why; because	adverb
61	quello	that, that one	pronoun
62	mai	never, ever	adverb
63	alla	to the, at the (fem.)	preposition
64	o	or	conjunction
65	anche	also, too, even	adverb
66	stato	been; state	verb
67	abbiamo	we have	verb
68	tutti	all, everyone	pronoun
69	dei	of the; some (pl.)	preposition
70	grazie	thanks, thank you	interjection
71	chi	who	pronoun
72	sta	stays, is (stare)	verb
73	molto	very, a lot	adverb
74	più	more, most	adverb
75	voglio	I want	verb
76	tuo	your (informal, masc.)	determiner
77	sia	be (subjunctive); both	verb
78	nel	in the (in + il)	preposition
79	lui	he, him	pronoun
80	allora	so, then	adverb
81	posso	I can	verb
82	prima	before, first	adverb
83	tua	your (informal, fem.)	determiner
84	suo	his, her, its; your (formal)	determiner
85	niente	nothing	pronoun
86	qualcosa	something	pronoun
87	sai	you know	verb
88	siamo	we are	verb
89	davvero	really	adverb
90	ancora	still, again, yet	adverb
91	hanno	they have	verb
92	stai	you are, you stay (stare)	verb
93	fa	does, makes; ago	verb
94	sua	his, her, its (fem.); your (formal)	determiner
95	così	so, like this	adverb
96	casa	house, home	noun
97	uno	one; a, an	number
98	dove	where	adverb
99	su	on, up, about	preposition
100	vero	true, real	adjective
101	vuoi	you want	verb
102	noi	we, us	pronoun
103	due	two	number
104	quindi	so, therefore	conjunction
105	dire	to say, to tell	verb
106	quella	that (fem.)	determiner
107	sempre	always	adverb
108	altro	other, another; else	adjective
109	sto	I am, I stay (stare)	verb
110	andare	to go	verb
111	po'	bit (un po' = a little)	adverb
112	loro	they, them; their	pronoun
113	devo	I must, I have to	verb
114	quel	that (masc.)	determiner
115	forse	maybe, perhaps	adverb
116	li	them (masc.)	pronoun
117	proprio	just, exactly, really; own	adverb
118	certo	of course, certain	adverb
119	tempo	time; weather	noun
120	nella	in the (fem.)	preposition
121	poi	then, later	adverb
122	vi	you (pl.); there	pronoun
123	credo	I believe, I think	verb
124	vita	life	noun
125	quanto	how much	adverb
126	puoi	you can	verb
127	fuori	out, outside	adverb
128	anno	year	noun
129	cui	which, whom	pronoun
130	andiamo	let's go; we go	verb
131	parte	part; leaves	noun
132	visto	seen	verb
133	qualcuno	someone	pronoun
134	lavoro	work, job	noun
135	voi	you (pl.)	pronoun
136	ciao	hi, bye	interjection
137	dio	God	noun
138	volta	time, occasion	noun
139	dopo	after, later	adverb
140	adesso	now	adverb
141	uomo	man	noun
142	padre	father	noun
143	devi	you must	verb
144	bisogno	need	noun
145	già	already	adverb
146	amico	friend	noun
147	posto	place, seat	noun
148	nessuno	nobody, no one	pronoun
149	via	away; street	adverb
150	fai	you do, you make	verb
151	signore	sir, gentleman; Lord	noun
152	meglio	better	adverb
153	dai	come on; you give	interjection
154	dal	from the (da + il)	preposition
155	vuole	wants	verb
156	sembra	seems	verb
157	giorno	day	noun
158	ogni	every, each	determiner
159	modo	way, manner	noun
160	senza	without	preposition
161	vedere	to see	verb
162	dobbiamo	we must	verb
163	qualche	some, a few	determiner
164	dispiace	is sorry (mi dispiace = I'm sorry)	verb
165	penso	I think	verb
166	ecco	here is, there you go	adverb
167	parlare	to speak, to talk	verb
168	tra	between, among; in (time)	preposition
169	mamma	mom	noun
170	sarebbe	would be	verb
171	troppo	too, too much	adverb
172	fosse	were (subjunctive)	verb
173	possiamo	we can	verb
174	nuovo	new	adjective
175	male	bad, badly; pain	adverb
176	madre	mother	noun
177	avete	you have (pl.)	verb
178	tanto	so much, a lot	adverb
179	favore	favor (per favore = please)	noun
180	successo	happened; success	verb
181	vai	you go	verb
182	giusto	right, fair	adjective
183	sa	knows	verb
184	aspetta	wait	verb
185	avere	to have	verb
186	altra	other, another (fem.)	adjective
187	facendo	doing	verb
188	momento	moment	noun
189	ero	I was	verb
190	aveva	had	verb
191	ragazzo	boy, boyfriend (ragazzi = guys)	noun
192	deve	must, has to	verb
193	persona	person	noun
194	nostro	our	determiner
195	tipo	type, kind; guy; like	noun
196	prego	you're welcome; please	interjection
197	grande	big, great	adjective
198	può	can	verb
199	senti	listen; you feel	verb
200	appena	just, as soon as	adverb
201	potrebbe	could	verb
202	soldi	money	noun
203	dice	says	verb
204	sapere	to know	verb
205	tre	three	number
206	oggi	today	adverb
207	questi	these	determiner
208	piace	likes (mi piace = I like)	verb
209	idea	idea	noun
210	siete	you are (pl.)	verb
211	avevo	I had	verb
212	figlio	son, child	noun
213	accordo	agreement (d'accordo = OK)	noun
214	gente	people	noun
215	sicuro	sure, safe	adjective
216	vieni	come; you come	verb
217	guarda	look	verb
218	dentro	inside	adverb
219	trovato	found	verb
220	caso	case, chance	noun
221	forza	strength; come on!	noun
222	pensi	you think	verb
223	signora	lady, madam, Mrs.	noun
224	faccio	I do, I make	verb
225	nome	name	noun
226	avuto	had	verb
227	problema	problem	noun
228	mondo	world	noun
229	preso	taken	verb
230	nulla	nothing	pronoun
231	donna	woman	noun
232	stare	to stay, to be	verb
233	basta	enough; that's it	interjection
234	insieme	together	adverb
235	ragazza	girl, girlfriend	noun
236	subito	immediately	adverb
237	famiglia	family	noun
238	volevo	I wanted	verb
239	sentito	heard, felt	verb
240	stesso	same; -self	adjective
241	ragione	reason; right (avere ragione)	noun
242	sarà	will be	verb
243	capito	understood	verb
244	notte	night	noun
245	testa	head	noun
246	serve	is needed	verb
247	tesoro	darling; treasure	noun
248	sotto	under	preposition
249	vado	I go	verb
250	dato	given	verb
251	bello	beautiful, nice	adjective
252	scusa	sorry, excuse me (informal)	interjection
253	pensavo	I thought	verb
254	prendere	to take	verb
255	buono	good	adjective
256	porta	door; brings	noun
257	moglie	wife	noun
258	vorrei	I would like	verb
259	storia	story, history	noun
260	succede	happens	verb
261	morto	dead	adjective
262	dici	you say	verb
263	pronto	ready; hello (on phone)	adjective
264	meno	less, minus	adverb
265	avanti	forward; come in	adverb
266	capisco	I understand	verb
267	secondo	second; according to	adjective
268	venire	to come	verb
269	polizia	police	noun
270	lì	there	adverb
271	mentre	while	conjunction
272	letto	bed; read	noun
273	fino	until (fino a)	preposition
274	fine	end	noun
275	aiuto	help	noun
276	paura	fear	noun
277	fratello	brother	noun
278	domani	tomorrow	adverb
279	abbastanza	enough, quite	adverb
280	capo	boss, head	noun
281	amore	love	noun
282	macchina	car; machine	noun
283	trovare	to find	verb
284	comunque	anyway, however	adverb
285	nemmeno	not even	adverb
286	mano	hand	noun
287	presto	soon, early	adverb
288	bambino	child, little boy	noun
289	tornare	to return	verb
290	primo	first	adjective
291	sera	evening	noun
292	morte	death	noun
293	qua	here	adverb
294	quasi	almost	adverb
295	piacere	pleasure; nice to meet you	noun
296	contro	against	preposition
297	felice	happy	adjective
298	colpa	fault, blame	noun
299	invece	instead	adverb
300	figlia	daughter	noun

Frequency ranking based on OpenSubtitles 2018 subtitles (hermitdave/FrequencyWords).

Questions

What are the most common Italian words?

The top ten are e (and), non (not), che (that), di (of), la (the (fem.); her), il (the (masc.)), un (a), a (to), per (for), è (is (essere)).

How many Italian words do I need to know?

The few hundred most frequent words make up a large share of any everyday text, which is why they're the best place to start. To read graded stories comfortably you need roughly 1,000–2,000; for unadapted books, several thousand. Test yourself with the Italian vocabulary size test.

Where does this list come from?

The ranking is based on OpenSubtitles 2018 subtitles (hermitdave/FrequencyWords), cleaned by hand to remove names, fragments and noise, with meanings added for learners.