Regional diversity
Regional languages and dialects may appear alongside standard Italian in private or older documents.
Romance language
Have Italian translated
italiano
Italian documents are often needed for marriage, recognition procedures, employment and cross-border family matters.
Italian is spoken as a first language by around 65 million people and is also used as a second language by others.
Geographical distribution of Italian
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Italy
San Marino
Vatican City
Switzerland
Germany
A schematic selection of the main areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders, and the map does not show complete population statistics.
Language profile
Italian at a glance
- Native name
- italiano
- Language family
- Romance language
- Script
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- it
Documents and areas of use
Common uses for this language combination
It is not just about the language. ABBA-Sprachendienste also takes into account the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and the language combination you need.
Have your document checked- Birth and marriage certificates
- Registration and civil-status records
- Certificates and diplomas
- Employment and purchase contracts
- Notarial and inheritance documents
Origin and development
How the language developed
Italian is a Romance language. The modern standard language is based largely on Tuscan, particularly Florentine, literary traditions, which gained considerable prestige through writers such as Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio.
Following Italy's unification in the 19th century, the standard language spread through education and public administration. Regional languages and dialects nevertheless remain highly prominent.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Official abbreviations
Municipalities, provinces and registers use established abbreviations that must be interpreted correctly in context.
Names and places
South Tyrol and other multilingual regions may use Italian and German place names or names of public authorities side by side.
A glimpse of the language
Three phrases to start with
The transliteration is only a rough guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may differ.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Buongiorno | — | Good day |
| Grazie | — | Thank you |
| Per favore | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide figures and may vary depending on the definition, the year of the survey and whether second-language speakers are included.
- Italian language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources as of 14 July 2026. The information will be cross-checked by subject experts before the website goes live.
Other related service languages
Italian FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Italian
Can I have documents translated from Italian into German and from German into Italian?
You can request either direction. We give a binding commitment once we have checked the document type, subject area, certification, appointment and intended use.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Italian?
Birth and marriage certificates, registration and civil-status records, certificates and diplomas, and employment and purchase contracts are typical examples. Other types of document can also be assessed from a clear photograph or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check in Italian documents?
We check the language combination, document type, script (Latin alphabet), names, stamps, subject area, intended use and whether certification may be needed.
Do I need a certified translation of my Italian document?
That is decided by the authority, court or notary receiving the document, or by whichever other office has requested it. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted, so that your requirements can be assessed properly.
Is a photo enough for the initial check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually enough for us to check your request and prepare a quote. Depending on the job, the original may also be needed later, when the work is carried out.
Have your specific Italian ↔ German requirements assessed
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally check the language combination, document, intended use and whether certification is needed.
