It's easy to understand some Italian words: pizza, pasta, cappuccino... Then, things can get a little more complicated. It doesn't matter why you want to learn Italian, but you'll want to be well-prepared so that you have the best chance of succeeding. To do that, you'll need some books to help you learn the language.

Good as bread, or good as gold, is how the Italians say we are. So we've put together a list of the best grammar books, textbooks, and audiobooks, as well as some extras, to help you learn the language.

Best Italian books for beginners

We all have to start somewhere, and this is where it's important to be honest.

Starting at the beginning is the best way to learn how to play the game. In fact, if your last Italian class was over a year ago, you should take a refresher beginner's class. It will not only make you feel like a genius, but it will make you want to move on to more difficult things, too!

Here are some of the best books for people who want to learn how to speak Italian.

Italian: A Self-Teaching Guide (2nd Edition)

The first book you should buy if you're completely new to Italian is this one.

Everything from telling time to how many days in a week are in this book. It also talks about basic grammar rules. Learn some important words and try some of the practice questions.

This text will help you understand some of the basics of Italian. The explanations are written in English.

This book is for:

The first-timer who doesn't know where to start.

Introduce basic grammar before going into more specifics

Learning important words and making sentences with them

Learning is done by doing (there are practice questions at the end of each section)

Italian Vocabulary Builder: 2222 Italian Phrases To Learn Italian and Grow Your Vocabulary

When you're trying to learn a new language, even dictionaries can be too much for you to deal with at times. The best thing you can do is get help from a vocabulary builder.

This one is great for getting to know Italian words and phrases with the right explanations. Each chapter has phrases that you'll use right away, and they'll come in handy when you start reading longer Italian texts.

This book is for:

Increasing your knowledge of the language

Learning useful words and how to use them in different situations

Everything from adjectives to animals is explained in great detail.

Easy Italian Step-by-Step

If you don't like the word "grammar," you'll have to learn it to speak a new language. If you know a lot of Italian phrases but can't change the tenses, you won't be able to use them very often.

This book, on the other hand, takes a very easy way to teach Italian grammar rules and vocabulary at the same time. Find out how to speak the language, and the rest will follow soon after.

You can get a lot of information from this guide for a low price. It's a lot of information but not too much for people who are just starting out.

This book is for:

In this case, beginners who need a lot of time to get used to Italian grammar rules

People who like a simple way of learning who have a hard time with memorization tests

An all-in-one guide to learning grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension without having to do things that aren't necessary.

Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Italian All-in-One (1st Edition)

Self-study guide and Italian textbook: This is a mix of these two types of books

There isn't much to be excited about about the way it looks, but it's lightweight and easy to carry around. How good the content is more important, and I have good news for you.

If you like having all of your language lessons in one place, this is the place to start. Beginners who need a workbook that doesn't use complicated grammar terms or long vocabulary lists should buy this book. It's worth the money.

This book is for:

A group of people who want to do things on their own but need a place to practice and start.

Beginners who like to have all of their work in one place.

Advice and lessons that make sense for your money are what you'll learn here.

Italian Short Stories for Beginners: 20 Captivating Short Stories to Learn Italian & Grow Your Vocabulary the Fun Way!

At some point in the future, you'll probably want to push yourself. To get more comfortable with the language you've learned, you can try to use the words you've learned in real-life situations.

If you look at the cover, this book might look hard. "How in the world am I supposed to read a whole story in Italian?" My new favorite word is "cat."

Keep your cool.

Useful words are shown in each story. At the end, you can read a summary in both Italian and English to make sure you understand what the story is about.

This book is for:

In order for people who are learning Italian to move up to intermediate level, they need a challenge.

Understanding colloquialisms in Italian when they're used in the right way

Detecting correct and natural conversations without any pressure (answers are readily available in the book)

There are a lot of free resources and apps that can help you learn Italian.

Best grammar books to learn Italian

Trying to learn new grammar can be hard because your brain is hard-wired to use its default setting, which is to use the language that you speak in your own country.

Contrary to what people think, learning Italian grammar rules isn't as hard as people think. In terms of learning articles and prepositions, there are a lot of them, which makes it hard. Master these, and you're good to go.

People who want to learn Italian should check out these grammar books that can help them do that.

Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Italian Grammar (3rd Edition)

Everyone starts somewhere. Beginners who want simple explanations and a place to practice their new skills should buy this book.

If you want to learn the basics of Italian grammar, this book has 250 exercises for you to do. However, the Kindle version of this book doesn't let you fill in those exercises.

Even though you don't like copying from a screen, choose the paper copy.

This book is for:

Italy is a great language for people who enjoy working on paper.

Grammar rules for beginning students that are both thorough and easy to understand are what these people need.

A lot of practice questions with a wide range of content.

Schaum’s Outline of Italian Grammar (4th Edition)

This one is my favorite for people who are just starting out. The book starts by going over how to say Italian words the right way. It has a lot of examples and a lot of places for you to practice. There are over 400 practice questions.

If you're not a language fan and you don't like complicated grammar terms, don't worry. Schaum tells you what each word means so you don't get mixed up.

This is a great way to add to your Italian lessons, whether you're learning on your own or with help.

This book is for:

Those who are at the beginning or intermediate level of learning

Giving a clear and broad understanding of Italian grammar

Easy-to-follow advice with practice questions that follow.

Practice Makes Perfect: Italian Pronouns and Prepositions

Here's one for intermediate Italian speakers who have run into a wall of their own making.

It can be hard to learn Italian because of all the pronouns and prepositions that you have to remember. Do not think that this guide will help you clear your mind of the fog.

Because it's from Practice Makes Perfect, I know that this guide helped me clear up my doubts about it. It did what my teachers could not: help me figure out where I was going wrong.

This book is for:

Intermediate-level students are having trouble with some grammar rules.

Learners who like to follow a step-by-step plan.

Attention paid to a common problem with learning Italian

Italian Grammar Drills (3rd Edition)

People who have learned other languages will be familiar with the complicated names grammar teachers use to describe things like grammar rules. You can't learn them unless you get used to them.

Traditional classroom methods aren't always the best way to learn, but if you like the way they work, drills are the way to go. This one has a lot of practice questions, and it gives you a lot of information before you start to try them out.

This book is for:

They are people who have already learned a language other than Italian or who know a lot about grammar.

These are the people who learn best when they do things over and over again and remember them.

Intense chapters are used to learn about specific grammar rules.

Italian Grammar You Really Need To Know (Teach Yourself)

Finally, this is a "bread and butter" guide for those of you who are brave enough to learn Italian on your own.

If you buy this guide for less than ten dollars, it takes a clear and concise way to teach you Italian grammar. It doesn't do more or less than what it says it does: cover what you need to know.

To get a broad, all-encompassing start and remember what you learned in the past, this is your best choice.

This book is for:

To help you learn Italian grammar on your own:

In this case, I want to cover the basics without going too far.

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