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
Schematic selection of key areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders; the map is not a comprehensive population statistic.
Language profile
Italian at a glance
- Native name
- italiano
- Language family
- Romance language
- Script
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- it
Documents and uses
Common uses for this language combination
The language alone is not decisive. ABBA-Sprachendienste also considers the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and requested language direction.
Request a document review- 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 brief introduction to the language
Three introductory expressions
The transliteration is intended only as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Buongiorno | — | Good day |
| Grazie | — | Thank you |
| Per favore | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded estimates and may vary depending on the definition, survey year 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 current as at 14 July 2026. The information will undergo a specialist review before the production launch.
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?
Both directions can be requested. Binding confirmation is provided after the document type, subject area, certification requirements, appointment and intended use have been assessed.
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?
The review covers the language direction, document type, use of the Latin alphabet, names, stamps, subject area, intended use and any potential need for certification.
Do I need a certified translation of my Italian document?
The receiving authority, court, notary or other requesting body decides this. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted so that the requirements can be assessed appropriately.
Is a photo sufficient for the initial review?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually sufficient for an initial quotation review. Depending on the assignment, the original may also be required later.
Have your specific Italian ↔ German requirements assessed
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally assess the language direction, document, intended use and certification requirements.
