Regional diversity
Regional languages and dialects may appear in private or older documents in addition to standard Italian.
Romance language
Have Italian translated
italiano
Italian documents are often required for marriage, recognition, work and cross-border family matters.
Italian is spoken as a first language by around 65 million people and is used as a second language by more people.
Geographical distribution of Italian
- Main distribution
- Other regional use
- Selected Diaspora
Italy
San Marino
Vatican City
Switzerland
Germany
Schematic selection of important distribution areas. Language usage does not always follow national borders; the map is not complete population statistics.
Language profile
Italian at a glance
- Proper name
- italiano
- language family
- Romance language
- font
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- it
Documents and deployment
The language direction is often used
It's not just the language that matters. ABBA-Sprachendienste also classifies document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirement and desired language direction.
Have the document checked- Birth and marriage certificates
- Registration and civil status certificates
- Certificates and diplomas
- Employment and purchase contracts
- Notary and inheritance documents
Origin and development
How language developed
Italian is a Romance language. Today's standard language is based essentially on Tuscan, especially Florentine, writing traditions, which gained great reputation through authors such as Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio.
With the unification of Italy in the 19th century, the standard language for education and administration was spread. Regional languages and dialects still remain very present.
Good to know
What makes this language special
Regulatory abbreviations
Municipalities, provinces and registers use fixed abbreviations that must be correctly classified in the context.
Name and location reference
South Tyrol and other multilingual regions can have Italian and German place or authority names next to each other.
A little language insight
Three first expressions
The transcription only serves as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transcription | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Buongiorno | — | Good afternoon |
| Grace | — | Thank you |
| Per favore | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide values and may vary depending on the definition, year of survey and inclusion of second language speakers.
- 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 standardized language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and area names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial source status: July 14, 2026. Information will be cross-checked before production goes live.
Other related service languages
Italian FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Italian
Can I have Italian translated into German and German into Italian?
Both directions can be requested. A binding commitment is made after checking the type of document, subject area, certification, date and intended use.
Which documents are often relevant for Italian?
Birth and marriage certificates, proof of registration and civil status, certificates and diplomas, employment and purchase contracts are among the typical occasions. Other types of documents can also be checked with an easy-to-read photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste look for in Italian?
The language direction, document type, Latin alphabet, names, stamps, subject area, purpose and possible need for certification are checked.
Do I need a certified translation for my Italian document?
This is decided by the receiving authority, the court, the notary or the other requesting body. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be presented; then the need can be classified appropriately.
Is a photo enough for the first check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and easy-to-read photo or PDF is usually sufficient to check the offer. Depending on the order, the original may also be required for later execution.
Have Italian ↔ German checked specifically
Send an easy-to-read photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste personally checks the language direction, document, purpose and certification requirements.
