Italian · A2 (Elementary)
Work in Italian: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Italian words for work are il contratto (the contract), lo stipendio (the salary) and le ferie (the holidays / annual leave). The full Italian work phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Italian vocabulary for work, with example sentences and English translations. This is A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Italian to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Italian curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key work vocabulary
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| il contratto | the contract |
| lo stipendio | the salary |
| le ferie | the holidays / annual leave |
| gli straordinari | overtime |
| dimettersi | to resign |
| assumere | to hire |
| il contratto a tempo indeterminato | permanent contract |
| il contratto a termine | fixed-term contract |
| il colloquio | the interview |
| lo smart working | remote working |
Example sentences
Ho firmato un nuovo contratto.
I have signed a new contract.
Il mio stipendio è di 2.000 euro netti.
My salary is 2,000 euros net.
Ho ventidue giorni di ferie.
I have twenty-two days of annual leave.
Ho ottenuto un contratto a tempo indeterminato.
I have obtained a permanent contract.
Voglio dimettermi.
I want to resign.
Faccio smart working due giorni a settimana.
I work remotely two days a week.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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