Have you started learning Italian? Great!
If you ever decide to take on Spanish or French too, you’ll be surprised by how much already feels familiar.
The vocabulary, the grammar, even the way people think, share more in common than you might expect.
In this article, you’ll find out why Italian can make learning other Romance languages easier, and how it can become the perfect foundation to explore new languages without starting from scratch.
What do Romance languages have in common?
Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Romanian and Catalan all come from the same family.
They’re Romance languages, all derived from Latin.
That’s why, even though they’ve each developed their own character, they share a lot of similarities.
Grammar structures are alike, many words look and sound similar, and even sentence construction follows a familiar rhythm.
If you know one Romance language, you already have a head start with the others. Learning them feels more intuitive and natural.
It’s a bit like learning to play one instrument, and then trying another from the same family. Your hands already know where to go.
Which Romance language is easiest to learn after Italian?
Most people would say Spanish. Its pronunciation is clear, the grammar is similar, and lots of vocabulary looks very familiar if you already know Italian.
On top of that, Spanish is written almost exactly as it’s pronounced, which is a big help.
French can seem a bit more complex at first. The pronunciation takes some getting used to, and some verb structures are different.
But once you become more familiar with the sounds, you’ll start to notice plenty of connections with Italian too.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on your learning style and what you enjoy most.
But one thing is certain: if you start from Italian, both Spanish and French will feel more approachable and less overwhelming. And that’s a huge plus.
Same family, similar rules: how Italian grammar prepares you for Spanish and French
One of the best things about learning Italian is that it naturally trains your brain to spot grammar patterns that also exist in Spanish and French.
Verbs follow similar conjugation rules. Pronouns often go in the same place in a sentence. And the gender of nouns tends to follow the same logic.
If you know how to say “Io parlo, tu parli, lui parla” in Italian, it’s easy to understand “Yo hablo, tú hablas, él habla” in Spanish or “Je parle, tu parles, il parle” in French.
These languages share a similar way of thinking. So once you’ve got the Italian structure in your head, you don’t need to start all over again. You already have the foundation.
Similar words that help build your vocabulary
One of the most satisfying parts of learning Spanish or French after Italian is seeing just how many words are already familiar.
Most of these words have the same Latin root. Even if the spelling or pronunciation changes a little, the meaning is often the same.
Think of “familia” in Spanish, “famille” in French and “famiglia” in Italian.
Or words like “importante”, “problema”, “telefono”, “università”. They’re practically identical.
This makes building your vocabulary easier and more natural. You’re not starting from zero. It’s like bumping into old friends in a new language.
Learn to guess the meaning of sentences thanks to language similarities
When you know Italian, you can often guess the meaning of a sentence in Spanish or French.
Even if you don’t understand every word, you can usually figure out the general idea thanks to the similar structure, the context and words that sound familiar.
Sentences like “Je vais à l’université” or “Yo tengo una casa en Italia” are easy to understand, even if you’ve never studied those languages. Your brain, trained by Italian, recognises patterns and connects the dots.
This is a skill that gets stronger with experience. And once it kicks in, you’ll feel much more confident even when you come across something completely new.
Why knowing Italian makes you more confident and quicker at learning Spanish and French
Learning any language helps you think differently, face mistakes without fear and deal with unfamiliar grammar. If you’ve already been through this with Italian, learning Spanish or French will feel much easier.
You’ve trained your ear to new sounds, worked on pronunciation, learned how to structure a sentence and even developed a sense for word order.
You’ll start to recognise patterns faster, and you’ll already know how to handle the moments of confusion that come with learning something new.
Italian becomes your strong foundation. It doesn’t just open the door to other languages. It also gives you the tools and confidence to go further.
Practical techniques to link words and memorise them using Italian
Knowing Italian gives you a big advantage when it comes to learning new words in Spanish or French.
Here are some practical ways to make the most of it.
- Make lists of similar words like famiglia, familia, famille or università, universidad, université.
Write them next to each other, read them aloud and use them in simple sentences. - Notice the patterns. Sometimes all you need to do is change the ending. For example, -zione in Italian becomes -ción in Spanish and -tion in French. So informazione becomes información and information.
- Use mental images to help you remember. If you know that “mare” is “mar” in Spanish, picture the same sea — just with Spanish waves.
- Speak the words out loud and switch languages as you go. This helps lock them in and makes pronunciation feel more natural.
With a bit of creativity and consistency, learning becomes less of a chore and more like a game.
Italian, Spanish and French: key differences to keep in mind
Yes, these languages have a lot in common, but they also have their own quirks. It’s important to be aware of them to avoid getting confused.
Pronunciation is one of the biggest differences. Italian is read almost exactly as it’s written. Spanish has a clear, musical sound. French is a little trickier, with nasal vowels and silent final letters.
Then there are false friends — words that look the same but mean something else.
“Sensible” in French actually means “reasonable”, not “sensitive”.
“Embarazada” in Spanish doesn’t mean “embarrassed” — it means “pregnant”.
Grammar also varies. Even though the structure is similar, each language has its own set of rules, verb forms and exceptions.
So yes, Italian gives you a huge head start. But to really make progress, you still need to pay attention to what makes each language unique.
Can you study more than one Romance language at the same time?
You can, but it helps to have a plan. Romance languages are similar enough that they can blend together in your head. To avoid confusion, it’s important to stay organised.
- Keep the languages separate. Use different notebooks, different apps, or study them at different times of day.
- Focus on listening and reading first. Get used to the sounds and the flow of each language before you dive into speaking.
- Pay attention to similarities and differences. Consciously comparing what’s the same — and what’s not — helps your brain remember things more clearly.
- And don’t rush. Master one language first, then move on to the next when you feel ready. If your Italian is solid, adding Spanish or French will feel a lot more manageable and even fun.
Want to learn another Romance language? Start with Italian
Wondering how Italian can help you learn Spanish and French? Here’s the thing. Italian is the perfect mother language to kick off your journey into the Romance language world.
Its structure is clear, the vocabulary overlaps with other languages, and the similarities are real.
This makes learning feel faster, simpler and way less stressful even if you’re just starting out.
Studies and rankings show that people who know Italian often find it easier to pick up Spanish, especially at beginner and intermediate levels.
Some learners can even understand movies in Spanish or French without subtitles, thanks to stronger reading and listening skills developed through Italian.
Whether you’re learning for work, travel, moving to Spain or just for fun, Italian is always a smart first step.
If you’re short on time or don’t know where to begin, take a look at the courses from Sì Studiare Italiano.
There’s something for every level, goal and learner.
Start your path into the Romance language family with Italian as your base. You’re already one step ahead now it’s time to make it count.