Do You Need To Speak Italian To Survive In Italy?
Maybe not at the beginning — but it’s worth the effort. Here’s why.
I moved to Milan in January 2022 with only an A2 (beginner) level of Italian, and I’ve faced very few challenges by not fluently speaking the language.
Despite the numerous jokes slung at Italians by their Northern European peers, I’ve found that the vast majority of young Italians understand English, as do many people in the older generation. Italians grow up consuming American media and encountering English words online the same way other Europeans do, and they also study English in school.
If you’re moving to Italy without knowing Italian, don’t worry — You’ll struggle in certain situations, but you’ll get by!
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Do You Have to Learn Italian To Live in Italy?
You can absolutely live in Italy without speaking Italian, but learning the language will pay dividends.
As a 20-something immigrant who lives and works in Milan and primarily dates Italians and socializes with Italian people, I desperately need to learn the…
