Italian vs Spanish: Which Should You Learn First?

So you're trying to pick between Italian and Spanish? Smart move either way since both languages open up tons of opportunities for travel, work, and connecting with millions of speakers worldwide. The good news is that Italian and Spanish share a ton of similarities, making either one a solid first Romance language. The tricky part is figuring out which fits your goals better. Let me break down the real differences and similarities so you can make an informed choice without all the usual fluff you find online.

How closely related are Spanish and Italian?

Here's the thing: Italian and Spanish are basically linguistic cousins. Both evolved from Latin after the Roman Empire collapsed, which means they share the same ancestral DNA. Linguists have measured the lexical similarity between these two languages at around 82%, meaning roughly 8 out of 10 words have recognizable similarities.

This relationship puts them closer together than Spanish and Portuguese (around 89% similar) but way more connected than Spanish and French (about 75%). As romance languages, they follow similar patterns in how they structure sentences, mark gender on nouns, and conjugate verbs.

The shared Latin roots mean you'll spot familiar words constantly. The Italian word "università" looks almost identical to the Spanish "universidad". Same goes for "importante" in both languages. When you learn one, you're essentially getting a head start on the other.

Vocabulary similarities and differences

The vocabulary overlap between Italian and Spanish makes learning either one easier if you already know the other. Words like "problema" (problem), "musica" (music), and "possibile/posible" (possible) are nearly identical. You'll find this pattern across thousands of common words.

But here's where it gets interesting. False friends exist everywhere. The Italian "burro" means butter, while Spanish "burro" means donkey. The Spanish word "largo" means long, but Italian "largo" means wide. These mix-ups happen because the languages evolved separately in different regions, developing their own quirks over centuries.

Spanish borrowed heavily from Arabic during the 800 years of Moorish rule in Spain. Words starting with "al-" like "almohada" (pillow) or "alfombra" (carpet) come straight from Arabic. Italian didn't have this influence, so you'll find completely different words for these concepts.

Italian kept closer to Latin in some areas. The Italian verb "parlare" (to speak) resembles Latin "parabolare" more than Spanish "hablar" does. Meanwhile, Spanish simplified certain Latin structures that Italian preserved.

Pronunciation differences that actually matter

Spanish pronunciation is ridiculously consistent. Once you learn the rules, you can read almost anything out loud correctly. Each letter makes basically one sound, and stress patterns follow predictable rules. The Spanish "r" requires practice for most English speakers, especially the rolled "rr" in words like "perro" (dog), but the overall system is straightforward.

Italian pronunciation throws more curveballs. The letters "c" and "g" change sounds depending on what vowel follows them. "Ciao" has a soft "ch" sound, but "casa" uses a hard "k" sound. The combination "gli" creates a sound that doesn't exist in English, like in "famiglia" (family). You need to memorize these patterns since they're less predictable than Spanish.

Both languages are phonetic compared to English, meaning you actually pronounce the letters you see. No silent letters hiding everywhere like in French. But Spanish edges ahead for pure consistency.

The rhythm differs too. Italian has this musical, flowing quality with lots of double consonants that you actually hold longer. Spanish moves faster and more staccato in many dialects. As an English speaker, you might find Spanish rhythm easier to adopt initially.

Grammar breakdown: the real differences

Let me get specific about grammar since this is where your daily struggle happens. Both languages use gendered nouns, meaning every object is masculine or feminine. The Italian "tavolo" (table) is masculine, while "sedia" (chair) is feminine. Spanish does the same with "mesa" (table, feminine) and "silla" (chair, feminine). You just have to memorize these.

Verb conjugation gets complex in both languages. Each verb changes form based on who's doing the action and when. Italian has more verb tenses than Spanish, technically speaking. Italian uses the remote past tense (passato remoto) regularly in writing and southern dialects, while Spanish uses it less frequently in everyday conversation.

Spanish has two verbs for "to be": "ser" for permanent states and "estar" for temporary conditions. Italian simplifies this with mainly "essere", though "stare" exists for specific uses. This makes Italian slightly easier in this specific area.

Pronouns work differently too. Italian drops subject pronouns more often than Spanish because the verb endings make it clear who's acting. You can say "Parlo italiano" (I speak Italian) without "io" (I). Spanish does this too, but less consistently across dialects.

The subjunctive mood appears in both languages for expressing doubt, wishes, or hypotheticals. Both require serious study here. Italian and Spanish learners both struggle with when to use subjunctive versus indicative verb forms.

Italian vs Spanish: which is easier for beginners?

Most language learners find Spanish slightly easier to start with. The pronunciation rules are more consistent, there are more learning resources available, and you'll find more people to practice with globally. Spanish has about 500 million native speakers compared to Italian's 65 million.

Spanish resources flood the market. You'll find more textbooks, apps, podcasts, YouTube channels, and online courses for Spanish than Italian. This abundance means you can shop around for materials that match your learning style.

Italian grammar has some simpler aspects though. The verb conjugation patterns, while numerous, follow more regular patterns in some tenses. The lack of the ser/estar distinction removes one conceptual hurdle.

For mutual intelligibility, knowing one helps with the other, but don't expect to automatically understand everything. Written text is easier to decode than spoken language. I'd estimate you might understand 50-60% of written content in the other language after reaching intermediate level in one.

When to choose Italian over Spanish

Pick Italian if you're passionate about Italian culture, food, art, or history. The language connects you directly to Renaissance literature, opera, and regional Italian traditions that lose something in translation. If you want to live in Italy or work with Italian companies, the choice is obvious.

Italian also works well if you're learning primarily through content you love. Fewer speakers means a tighter community of learners and more appreciation when you actually speak Italian in Italy. Italians generally get excited when foreigners learn their language since it's less common than English speakers learning Spanish.

From a practical standpoint, Italian gives you strong access to understanding other Romance languages too. That Latin-heavy vocabulary helps with reading French, Portuguese, and even Romanian. If you want to learn multiple Romance languages, starting with Italian builds a solid foundation.

When Spanish makes more sense

Choose Spanish for maximum practical use. You'll find Spanish speakers across Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America (except Brazil), and large communities in the United States. The sheer number of countries where Spanish is official gives you way more opportunities to use it.

Learning Spanish also positions you well for Portuguese. The two languages share even more similarities than Spanish and Italian, especially in written form. Brazilian Portuguese speakers and Spanish speakers can often understand each other with some effort.

Career-wise, Spanish opens more doors in international business, translation, education, and diplomacy simply because of the larger speaker population. Companies value Spanish skills more frequently in job postings.

If you're based in the Americas, Spanish is the obvious choice. You'll have countless opportunities to practice with native speakers, consume media, and travel to Spanish-speaking countries easily.

The learning timeline for both languages

Getting to conversational level takes roughly the same time for both. The Foreign Service Institute rates both as Category I languages for English speakers, estimating 600-750 class hours to reach professional working proficiency. That's about 24-30 weeks of intensive study.

Your actual timeline depends more on study methods than the language itself. Consistent daily practice beats sporadic cramming every time. Spending 30 minutes daily with comprehensible input, vocabulary review, and speaking practice will get you further than 3-hour weekend study sessions.

The first 3 months focus on basic grammar, essential vocabulary, and pronunciation. You'll learn present tense conjugation, common nouns, and basic sentence structures. By month 6, you should handle simple conversations about daily life, order food, and ask directions.

Reaching fluency takes years, not months. Even after hitting conversational level, you'll keep discovering new vocabulary, idioms, and cultural references. The learning never truly stops, which is actually pretty cool if you enjoy the process.

Can you understand Spanish if you speak Italian?

Yes and no. Written Spanish becomes easier to understand once you speak Italian, especially formal or academic writing. The shared vocabulary and similar sentence structures help you decode meaning even without formal Spanish study.

Spoken Spanish is trickier. Different accents, faster speech, and those Arabic-derived words create comprehension barriers. A Spanish speaker from Argentina sounds completely different from someone from Spain. Italian prepares you for the grammar and much of the vocabulary, but listening comprehension requires dedicated practice.

The reverse works similarly. Spanish speakers can often read Italian menus, signs, and basic texts. Having one Romance language in your toolkit definitely accelerates learning the second one. You already understand concepts like grammatical gender, verb conjugation patterns, and formal versus informal address.

Cultural and historical context

Spanish spread globally through colonization, creating diverse dialects across continents. Mexican Spanish differs noticeably from Castilian Spanish in Spain, which differs from Argentine Spanish. Each region developed unique vocabulary, pronunciation, and even some grammar variations.

Italian remained more regional until unification in 1861. Regional dialects in Italy are actually different enough to be considered separate languages by some linguists. Standard Italian based on the Tuscan dialect became the official version, but regional variations persist strongly.

This history means Spanish gives you access to wildly different cultures across multiple continents. Italian connects you deeply to one country with intense regional diversity. Both offer rich cultural experiences, just in different ways.

Making your final choice

Stop overthinking this. Seriously. Pick the language that excites you more right now. You can always learn the other one later, and having one Romance language makes the second way easier.

Think about your actual goals. Where do you want to travel? What movies and music do you enjoy? Which culture fascinates you more? Your motivation matters more than minor difficulty differences.

If you're still stuck, try both for two weeks. Spend a week with Spanish basics, then a week with Italian basics. See which one feels better. Trust your gut on this one.

Anyway, whichever language you choose, Migaku's browser extension works great for learning through actual content you enjoy. You can watch Spanish or Italian shows and look up words instantly without breaking immersion. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to test it out with real native content.