· 7 min read
French vs Italian: Which Should You Learn?
By Language Lab editorial team
French vs Italian compared: 30 weeks against 24 by US State Department figures, pronunciation, where each is spoken, official exams and free courses.
French and Italian are both in the easiest official group for English speakers, with Italian a little quicker: the US State Department lists Italian at 24 weeks of classes and French at 30. The biggest practical difference is sound. Italian is read as it is written, with every vowel clearly pronounced, while French asks you to master nasal sounds and distinctions such as u and ou, which beginner courses teach explicitly. French goes further around the world: the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie counts 396 million French speakers and 170 million learners. Italian is the language of Italy and one of Switzerland's four official languages. Choose French for international reach, Italian for Italy and for spelling that matches sound.
Side by side
| French | Italian | |
|---|---|---|
| State Department category | Category I | Category I |
| Class time | 30 weeks | 24 weeks |
| Pronunciation | Nasal sounds; the u and ou sounds; the letters h and r | Read as it is written; every vowel distinctly enunciated |
| Grammar hurdles | Genders, verb conjugation, some irregular common verbs | Gender agreement; six endings for each verb tense |
| Where it is spoken | France, parts of Belgium and Switzerland, Québec, parts of North and Central Africa and more | Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican State |
| Scale | 396 million speakers; 170 million learners | Not given in the sources used here |
| Official certificates | DELF A1 to B2, DALF C1 and C2, TCF | CILS, CELI, CERT.IT, PLIDA |
| Free beginner courses | The Open University, TV5MONDE, RFI | The Open University; BBC archive |
Which is easier?
Italian has the edge. The State Department's Category I spans 24 to 30 weeks, or 552 to 690 class hours; Italian sits at the short end and French at the long end. The gap is six weeks of classes, and both are far below the 88 weeks listed for the hardest group.
Pronunciation
This is where learners feel the difference. The BBC's guide to Italian says it is read as it is written, pronunciation is clear, and the sing-song intonation makes sounds easier to identify. Its guide to French says you will have to get your head around the pronunciation of nasal sounds. The Open University's free beginner French courses list recognising the u and ou sounds, and pronouncing un, une and the letters h and r, among their learning outcomes. Even thank you carries a warning in the BBC's French guide: in merci beaucoup, take care with the ou.
Grammar
Here the two are much alike. The BBC notes that French grammar has similarities to Spanish and Italian. Both have masculine and feminine nouns, and both ask you to learn verb conjugation. Italian has six endings for each verb tense. French adds some irregular verbs you cannot avoid, such as être, to be, avoir, to have, aller, to go, and venir, to come.
Vocabulary you already know
- French in English: déjà vu, café, menu, omelette, soufflé, champagne. Most French words ending in -tion or -sion are spelt almost exactly as in English.
- Italian in English: ciao, pizza, cappuccino, al fresco, piano, orchestra, solo, fiasco, propaganda.
The same phrases in both
| English | French | Italian |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you | Merci | Grazie |
| My name is ... | Je m'appelle... | Mi chiamo ... |
| I would like ... | Je voudrais... | Vorrei ... |
| a beer | une bière | una birra |
| on the right | à droite | a destra |
| on the left | à gauche | a sinistra |
Both are Romance languages, from Latin. The BBC says learning either gives a head start with the other: its French guide lists Italian among the languages French helps with, and its Italian guide says Italian helps with the grammar of other Romance languages such as French.
Where each takes you
- French: official in France and spoken in Monaco, Luxembourg, parts of Belgium and Switzerland, Québec, and parts of North and Central Africa. The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie ranks it the fourth language worldwide and the third language of the economy and business.
- Italian: official in Italy and one of four official languages in Switzerland, with speakers in San Marino, Vatican State, Malta, Croatia, Slovenia and Corsica.
Exams
| French | Italian | |
|---|---|---|
| Diplomas | DELF for A1 to B2 and DALF for C1 and C2, issued by the Ministry of National Education | CILS from A1 to C2, one of four official certifications in the CLIQ association |
| Validity | Valid for life | CILS currently has no expiry date |
| Key levels | DELF B2 allows entry into French universities | B1 is the level required for Italian citizenship; B2 is valid for study and work in Italy |
| Placement test | TCF, valid for 2 years | Not covered in the sources used here |
How to choose
- You want a language used on several continents: French.
- You want spelling that matches sound from day one: Italian.
- Your plans are in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada or French-speaking Africa: French.
- Your plans are in Italy, or you are applying for Italian citizenship: Italian.
- You will learn both in time: either order works, since each helps with the other.
Language Lab offers both. Its French and Italian courses are built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor.
Frequently asked
Is French or Italian easier to learn?
Italian, slightly. The US State Department lists Italian at 24 weeks of classes and French at 30. Both are Category I languages.
Is Italian pronunciation easier than French?
The BBC's guides suggest so. Italian is read as it is written with clearly pronounced vowels, while French requires nasal sounds and distinctions such as u and ou.
Which is more useful, French or Italian?
French is used more widely: 396 million speakers, according to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Italian is the choice for Italy.
How similar are French and Italian?
Both are Romance languages with a similar grammatical structure. The BBC says learning one gives you a head start on the other.
Do the French and Italian diplomas expire?
DELF and DALF are valid for life, and the CILS Centre says its certificate currently has no expiry date.
Which should I learn first, French or Italian?
Start with the one you will use sooner. If you have no fixed plan, weigh the two advantages: Italian is read as it is written, and French is used more widely.
Sources: US Department of State, National Foreign Affairs Training Center, Foreign Language Training; BBC Languages, A Guide to French and A Guide to Italian (10 facts), and French and Italian Quick Fix phrases (archived pages); The Open University, OpenLearn, Getting started with French 1–3 and Italian 1–3; Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, La langue française dans le monde; France Éducation international, DELF, DALF and TCF; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Certification; University for Foreigners of Siena, CILS Centre. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: Lake Como near Bellagio, Daniel Case / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
