I’ve been using Duolingo to learn new languages and casually review ones I already know, like Italian. I’m hovering around a B1 level, but I still freeze up when someone asks “Vuole un sacchetto?” at the supermarket.
But for this article, though, I put on my app tester hat and started fresh—with a brand new profile and a critical eye.
Duolingo is one of the most popular language apps in the world. It’s free. It’s cute. It’s gamified. It’s also… frustrating, chaotic, and wildly inconsistent. But millions of people (including me) keep using it—so it must be doing something right. Right?
In this review, I’ll walk you through what it’s really like to learn Italian with Duolingo.
I’m not learning the language from scratch, but as a polyglot and app reviewer, I tested the Italian course in-depth—analyzing the lessons, structure, and overall usefulness.
I’ll also compare it with Babbel and Mondly along the way and share mini-reviews of both apps at the end if you’re considering alternatives.
PROs
- You can complete a lesson in 3–5 minutes
- The repetition works
- Listening activities are decent
- Affordable subscriptions
CONs
- No grammar explanations
- No cultural content
- Speaking exercises are shallow
- It’s highly gamified
Why Learn Italian (& Why So Many People Start with Duolingo)
Italian has this magical mix of musicality and logic. It’s phonetic (what you see is what you say), the vocabulary is relatable if you speak any other Romance languages, and it’s just plain beautiful. You learn “gelato,” “vino,” “amore”—and it feels like you’re learning how to live better, not just speak better.
I fell in love with Italian when I was still at school. I adore the food, the music, the culture, and it was a dream to travel around Italy. For me, and yeah, this might sound a bit strange, but Italian reminded me of my native Russian—pronunciation-wise.
So why do most people start with Duolingo?
Because it’s easy. It’s everywhere. It’s free. You can learn on your PC, tablet, or smartphone. And there’s something undeniably fun about leveling up your language skills while being cheered on by a passive-aggressive green owl. (We love you, Duo!)
But, popularity doesn’t always mean quality. So, let’s break it down.
Getting Started with Italian on Duolingo: The Setup
Signing up is simple. On the Duolingo website, pick Italian from the list, answer some questions like “What’s your learning goal?” and “Why are you learning Italian?” I was tempted to choose “to flirt” (that really should be an option, don’cha think?) but settled on the more responsible “for personal growth.”
Then you can take a placement test or start from scratch. I did a bit of both: started with some basics, then skipped ahead to see how the mid- and upper-level lessons were structured.
You can either create your account after the first “test” lesson or opt to learn anonymously. But if you don’t have an account, don’t expect your progress to be saved or sync across your devices.
You land on a colorful “learning path,” which is basically Duolingo’s version of a language curriculum, but it’s more colorful and full of random rewards. It shows you where to start, what to do next, and occasionally slaps a treasure chest in your face to keep you clicking.
It’s smooth. It’s intuitive. It’s deceptively motivating (until the hearts run out if you’re using Duolingo for free).
If you have an account and are technically a Duolingo pro, you can simply click on the flag/language icon and choose Italian from the list of languages.
What the Italian Lessons on Duolingo Are Like
The Italian course starts off easy: “per favore,” “tè,” and “caffè.” From matching exercises and short translations to multiple choice and listening and typing, Duolingo cycles through various exercises like a slightly repetitive language slot machine.
A typical lesson might look like this:
- Match the Italian to the German
- Fill in the blank
- Tap/type what you hear
- Write and translate
It’s fast-paced and satisfying. And yes, it teaches you to say “the cat drinks milk” or other silly sentences every now and again. I kinda look forward to those because they are like little Easter eggs waiting to be found, and yes, there’s science behind why these weird sentences are great for learning a new language.
But here’s the kicker: there’s very little explanation. You might suddenly go from “il ragazzo” to “del ragazzo” and just be expected to… get it.
Sure, you can hover for a translation. But actual grammar instruction? Not really part of the experience.
And even when you visit the Guidebook, you might get a basic explanation, if you’re lucky.
Or you can always pause the lesson and use one of your best friends—Google or ChatGPT—to find the “why” or grammar explanation.
The Benefits: What Duolingo Gets Right With Its Italian Course
Let’s give the owl some credit. Here’s what it does well:
- Habit-building: You can complete a lesson in 3–5 minutes, which makes it easier to stick with. And if you do microlearning (like me), 3-10 minutes a day is all you need to learn and make progress. Babbel and Mondly are built on similar principles.
- Vocabulary exposure: The repetition works. You will remember “l’uomo beve il vino” until the end of time.
- Listening practice: The recordings are clear, and the listening activities are surprisingly decent. I like the radio activities that aren’t designed for you to understand every word, but instead, to start recognizing the vocab you have learned so far.
- Design: It’s clean, cheerful, and doesn’t scare off beginners, similarly to most other language apps.
- Motivation: Streaks, leagues, quests—if you’re even slightly competitive, you’re hooked. And if you find these too distracting, you can disable the leagues and just focus on your streak and actual learning.
- Affordable subscriptions: Super Duolingo (with no ads and unlimited hearts) is budget-friendly, especially considering you can learn all 40+ languages with an individual or family plan.
I still use Duolingo for review, to learn new languages, or to keep up a streak. It’s like a little Italian warm-up: nothing too serious, just stretching the brain muscles before diving into something more intensive.
Testing Duolingo Language Courses:
- Spanish with Duolingo: Is it Effective for Spanish Language Learning?
- Learning Turkish with Duolingo: Does It Really Work?
- Learning English With Duolingo: The Good, the Bad, and the Alternatives
- Learning French With Duolingo: Can I speak French now?
- Learning Japanese with Duolingo – My Honest Review and Alternatives
The Cons: Where Duolingo Completely Drops the Cannoli
… so to speak.
Okay. Here’s where it gets frustrating.
- No grammar explanations. You meet new tenses and conjugations like a surprise guest at a dinner party. “Oh, ‘parlo’ means I speak? Neat. What’s ‘parli’ then? No clue.” Babbel and even Mondly to an extent does a much better job at teaching you grammar—all without the overwhelm.
- Weird phrases. These show up so often it feels like a meme. Real-world context? Not really. But it can help you remember a specific sentence structure.
- No cultural content. Where are the idioms? The conversational expressions? Anything about Italian life or how the language is actually used? #Missing.
- Speaking exercises are shallow. You repeat one word, a phrase, or a sentence, get a green check, and move on. Feedback? None. And even if you didn’t repeat or mess up, Duolingo may still say you’ve done a great job.
- It’s highly gamified. Sometimes you care more about not losing a heart, maintaining your streak, or moving up in the Leagues than about understanding the language. And that’s a problem if you’re serious about learning.
And here’s the real issue: if you’re serious about learning Italian—or any language—Duolingo just isn’t enough. It doesn’t teach you to think in the language. It is a good starting point though and to keep you motivated.
Progress and Plateaus: How Far Can Duolingo Take You in Italian?
If you use Duolingo every day for a year, will you become fluent?
Nope. But then again, no app will do that for you, no matter what it promises.
You’ll build a decent vocabulary (maybe 1,500–2,000 words), recognize patterns, and understand simple sentences. You’ll be able to say things like “I am at the airport” and “The coffee is hot.” Which is a solid A1 level.
But you won’t understand native-speed Italian or be able to have spontaneous conversations about your weekend. You won’t know when to use “conoscere” vs “sapere.” And forget about the subjunctive—Duolingo sure did.
To move beyond this, you’ll need real listening practice, real people, and real explanations.
And that’s exactly why I like to combine a few language apps with other methods. It gives me a much more comprehensive learning approach, ensures I don’t get bored doing the same 5 types of exercises on repeat, and that I make progress.
Who Duolingo’s Italian Course Is (and Isn’t) For
You may have dabbled in “il caffè,” “la donna,” and “il cavallo è mio.” But is Duolingo really your Italian learning soulmate or just a cute distraction before you commit to something more serious?
Here’s who will love Duolingo’s Italian course… and who might want to look elsewhere.
Use it if:
You’re a total beginner
You want to build a habit of daily practice
You like learning through trial and error
You need a vocabulary booster
Skip it (or supplement it) if:
You want real grammar instruction
You’re at a B1+ level
You get annoyed by silly sentences and gamified learning
Alternatives to Duolingo for Learning Italian
Ready to break up with Duo? Or just want a side fling?
Here are two language learning apps I’ve tested that offer something a little more structured.
Babbel: Best for Grammar Lovers and Real-Life Dialogue
If Duolingo is a game, Babbel is a structured online course—minus the strict teachers and chalkboards (read more: Duolingo vs Babbel: Is Babbel Better Than Duolingo?).
Babbel does a few things really well:
It explains grammar (finally!)
It teaches useful conversations from day one
It organizes lessons logically: greetings before shopping carts
It gently introduces you to verb conjugations and gendered nouns
The lessons are short but packed with content. There’s listening, speaking, reading, and grammar—all in one go. And unlike Duo’s randomness, it feels like Babbel actually builds on what you’ve learned.
As part of my job as a language-learning app tester, I’ve tested Babbel’s Italian course multiple times. I still pop in occasionally to brush up on grammar points I’ve forgotten or to run through a few dialogues.
Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!
Cost: $13.95/month or cheaper with longer plans (How Much Does Babbel Cost?)
Best for: Learners who want structure, explanations, and realistic conversation practice
Mondly: Best for Thematic Vocabulary and a Quick Confidence Boost
Mondly is the beautiful, slightly mysterious cousin in the language app family. It teaches you words and phrases in thematic chunks—travel, business, emergencies, dating—rather than dropping random sentences about horses and apples.
Aside from the interactive lessons, you can also chat with Mondly’s AI bot, learn Italian via augmented or virtual reality, and do random daily lessons (read more: Babbel vs Mondly: Which Language Learning App Is Best for You?).
What it does well:
It has a clean, visual layout
You can hear native-speaker recordings
There’s a chatbot for basic conversation practice
It’s quick and surprisingly motivating
I tested Mondly’s Italian course (2–3 lessons, as I often do for reviews), and it’s great for vocab-building and pronunciation. But grammar? It had conjugation tables in the lessons and then grammar-specific lessons.
Cost: $9.99/month to learn Italian only, or sign up for Lifetime Access to learn all 40+ languages
Best for: Visual learners, travelers, and people who just want to say things fast
Learn languages quickly with Mondly Premium. Learn the language you’ve always wanted to learn. It’s fun, fast, and easy!
My Final Thoughts: Use Duolingo, But Don’t Only Use Duolingo
Duolingo’s Italian course is fun. It’s colorful. It gives you a boost of confidence and a good base in vocabulary and sentence structure. It’s great for building a daily habit, staying motivated, and getting started.
If you’re serious about learning Italian, treat Duolingo like a warm-up or combine it with more in-depth resources like Babbel, Mondly, Italian YouTube videos, tutors, podcasts, grammar books, and of course… real conversations.
Because in the end, learning a language isn’t just about lessons—it’s about people, culture, context, and curiosity. And that’s what will take you from “Il cavallo è mio” to actually speaking Italian like someone who’s been there, felt it, and lived it.
If you enjoyed my article, please feel free to share it. Have any questions? Don't hesitate to email me!
Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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