How many people speak Italian worldwide?

As many as 85 million people speak Italian as their native language. Besides Italy, it is an official language in Switzerland, San Marino and Vatican City, and Italian has official minority language status in Croatia and Slovenia.

Is there more than one dialect of Italian?

Yes, but the one you'll learn and hear spoken most widely is the Tuscan dialect. Anywhere you travel in Italy, you'll be understood if you speak in the Italian commonly taught in schools and used in Italian media. But, with more than 30 regional variations of Italian, some of which are mutually understandable and some that are not, don't panic if you venture into Sicily or the wine region and find yourself struggling to grasp what's being said!

How hard is it to learn Italian?

Good news: Italian is one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn! Because English borrowed from Romance languages (like Italian, Spanish and French), people studying Italian find a lot of familiar words and grammatical concepts. If you put in the time and effort, you should have no problem speaking Italian as fluently as you like.

What are some good tips for studying the Italian language?

Start with the type of vocabulary you'll need for your intended use of Italian: travel, business, family history research, and so on, Italian uses gender for nouns, so memorize which ones are masculine and which are feminine (because it doesn't always make sense!). Another great tip for studying any language is to watch movies and TV shows with the captions on: you'll pick up accents, phrases and even some slang without even realizing it!

Why should I choose online Italian lessons?

Italian is a fun, popular language, but that doesn't mean you'll be able to find in-person classes near you. On the other hand, online lessons are plentiful and you can study whenever (and wherever) you prefer, at a price that is almost always much less than tuition for a college course.

How can I write in Italian on my computer or phone?

Fortunately, the Italian alphabet is the same as English, with the exception of accented vowels. If you're using a smartphone, holding down the base letter (a, e, i, o u) will usually pop up all of the available options for accents. On a computer, you can use an online Italian keyboard that lets you click on accented letters, or you may be able to use keyboard shortcuts.

Are online Italian lessons expensive?

They're surprisingly affordable. You can find month-to-month subscription plans for anywhere from $6 to $25, depending on the platform and features, or one-time purchases for under $250 for multiple levels of Italian lessons in one package. Either way, you'll be able to learn Italian for much less than you'd pay for a college course.

Can I get a refund if I don't like the Italian language program?

Yes, sometimes. If you're on a monthly subscription, you can usually cancel future payments with no penalty but you might not get your money back for previous months. With one-off purchases, you often have a 30- or 60-day trial period in which you can request a refund if you're not satisfied with your Italian lessons. We always suggest that interested students look for sample lessons or free trials; most platforms want you to know exactly what you're getting beforehand, so that you can choose the Italian lessons that are the right match for your goals and your learning style.

The Best Italian Lessons in Missouri for 2026

Item: The Best Italian Lessons in Missouri
Rating: 5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Friday, September 11th We evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

The Best Italian Lessons in Missouri

Where can I find the best Italian Lessons in Missouri? In Missouri, you can hunt for Italian lessons online without sticking to what's around the corner. With winter ice or steamy August afternoons, staying home while you set up a trial suits a busy week just fine. You still get choices, schedules, and accents that fit your goals, all without a drive on I-70.

5.0

EXCELLENT

Best Option

Ouino

450+ lessons and 1,300+ interactive exercises
Non-linear course structure that's customizable
60 short stories for reading practice

Read Full Review

EXCELLENT

5.0

On the Ouino website

4.5

GREAT

Great

Babbel

Native-speaker audio for listening and pronunciation
Speech recognition for speaking practice and feedback
Dialogue-based exercises using real-life scenarios

Read Full Review

GREAT

4.5

On the Babbel website

4.4

GREAT

Great

Rocket Languages

Audio-driven lessons with native speakers for real conversations
Interactive exercises to practice your skills
Writing practice integrated with reading exercises

Read Full Review

GREAT

4.4

On the Rocket Languages website

4.3

GREAT

Great

Italian Pod 101

Extensive audio and video lessons for all levels
Native-speaker dialogue with transcripts and notes
Vocabulary tools with flashcards

Read Full Review

GREAT

4.3

On the Italian Pod 101 website

4.3

GREAT

Great

Rosetta Stone

Immersive, image-based lessons
Speech-recognition tools for pronunciation practice
Structured progression across multiple units and levels

Read Full Review

GREAT

4.3

On the Rosetta Stone website

4.2

GREAT

Great

iTalki

One-on-one Italian lessons with native speakers
Professional teachers or community tutors available
Flexible scheduling and pricing

Read Full Review

GREAT

4.2

On the iTalki website

4.0

VERY GOOD

Very Good

Busuu

Placement test to help determine Italian language level
Speech and pronunciation practice exercises
Progress tracking and personalized study goals

Read Full Review

VERY GOOD

4.0

On the Busuu website

3.9

VERY GOOD

Very Good

Lingopie

Binge-watch Italian films, series, and shows
Interactive subtitles with instant word definitions
Multiple subtitle modes (Italian, English, or dual-language display)

Read Full Review

VERY GOOD

3.9

On the Lingopie website

3.8

VERY GOOD

Very Good

Mondly

Topic-based lessons
Interactive chatbot exercises
Speech recognition to help improve your speaking skills

Read Full Review

VERY GOOD

3.8

On the Mondly website

3.7

VERY GOOD

Very Good

Memrise

Scenario-based lessons
Native-speaker videos
MemBot AI conversation practice

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VERY GOOD

3.7

On the Memrise website

3.5

GOOD

Good

Duolingo

Free gamified lessons
Short daily exercises
Stories for contextual learning

Read Full Review

GOOD

3.5

On the Duolingo website

3.0

AVERAGE

Average

Fluenz

No free access
Pay per course level per year
Focus on real understanding, not games

Read Full Review

AVERAGE

3.0

On the Fluenz website

Continued from above...

Where Can I Find the Best Italian Lessons in Missouri?

In Missouri, you can hunt for Italian lessons online without sticking to what's around the corner. With winter ice or steamy August afternoons, staying home while you set up a trial suits a busy week just fine. You still get choices, schedules, and accents that fit your goals, all without a drive on I-70.

There's something reassuring about browsing far beyond your neighborhood when you're in St. Louis. You can sort by price, you can read reviews, and you can book short trials so you don't lock in before you're ready. In many Missouri districts, Italian doesn't show up as a standard high-school option, so online lessons often pick up the slack.

You'll notice that schedules line up cleanly with Central Time, especially if you'd rather meet after work in Kansas City. You can filter for CEFR-aligned curricula, CILS or CELI prep, or conversation-only sessions, and you can pick formats that match how you like to learn. If you want structure, you can ask for homework and progress checks; if you want flexibility, you can choose drop-in conversation.

Meanwhile, when you're in Columbia on a Saturday - coffee in hand, errands on deck - you can still fit in a quick chat to test audio and pronunciation. You can schedule during lunch, after a shift, or early morning before the Missouri heat kicks in. Across Missouri, you can match time zones, lesson lengths, and goals without being boxed in by geography.

Before choosing a program, consider these key points:

Free trials. Test whether the teaching style suits you.
Skill coverage. Decide if you want casual conversational skills or deeper mastery.
Speaking and listening. Check whether the platform helps build real-world conversational confidence.
Price and plans. Compare what's included for the cost to ensure it fits your budget.

Taking a few moments to compare these aspects will make your decision much clearer. The right Italian lessons will match your goals, give you tools to practice effectively, and help you build confidence step by step. To save you time, some of today's most popular platforms have been evaluated and ranked by the language experts at Top Consumer Reviews, in order to give you the best Italian learning experience. Andiamo!