The usual Italian word for “English” is inglese. It can refer to the English language or describe something or someone English. For the language, you can say l’inglese or la lingua inglese. The word is pronounced roughly een-GLAY-zeh, with the stress on the second syllable.
English in Italian is inglese (een-GLAY-zeh). “I speak English” is Parlo inglese.
How Do You Say English in Italian?
Use inglese for “English.” Italian uses the same word for the language and for the adjective, with the form changing only where Italian grammar requires it. Compare italiano, which also names a language and serves as an adjective. For example, Parlo inglese means “I speak English,” while un libro inglese means “an English book.”
Unlike English, Italian normally writes the names of languages in lowercase: italiano, inglese, francese. Capitalize them only at the beginning of a sentence or in a title that follows a capitalization style requiring it.
English as a Language: Inglese
L’inglese and la lingua inglese
When “English” is the subject or object of a sentence, Italian often treats it as a masculine singular noun: l’inglese. The article lo becomes l’ before the vowel at the beginning of inglese. You can also say la lingua inglese, literally “the English language,” when you want to make the meaning especially clear.
After verbs such as parlare (“to speak”), the language name commonly appears without an article: Parlo inglese (“I speak English”), Studio inglese (“I study English”). With other verbs and sentence structures, the article may be natural: L’inglese è una lingua utile (“English is a useful language”).
Inglese as an adjective
As an adjective, inglese can mean “English” or “British,” depending on context. The singular form is the same for masculine and feminine nouns: un corso inglese (“an English course”) and una studentessa inglese (“an English female student”). The plural is inglesi, following a pattern discussed in nationalities in Italian: libri inglesi (“English books”) and tradizioni inglesi (“English traditions”).
For greater precision, Italian can distinguish England from the United Kingdom. Inglese usually relates to England or the English language; britannico means “British,” relating to the United Kingdom. Use the term that matches what you actually mean.
How to Pronounce Inglese
Break inglese into three syllables: in-GLÉ-se, approximately “een-GLAY-zeh.” The main stress falls on the middle syllable, gle. The final e is pronounced clearly, like the vowel in Italian bene. Avoid turning the final vowel into a silent English-style ending.
Italian gl here is pronounced as two separate sounds, like “g-l,” not like the palatal sound in figlio. Listen for the three beats: in–gle–se.
Grammar: Gender and Plural Forms
The form inglese ends in -e in the singular, and its plural changes to -i. As an adjective, it agrees in number with the noun but does not change for masculine versus feminine in the singular:
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| singular | un giornale inglese | an English newspaper |
| singular | una parola inglese | an English word |
| plural | due giornali inglesi | two English newspapers |
| plural | parole inglesi | English words |
When used as a noun for the language, it is usually singular: L’inglese è diffuso in molti paesi (“English is widely spoken in many countries”).
Useful Phrases with English
| Italian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Parlo inglese. | I speak English. |
| Parla inglese? | Do you speak English? / Does he or she speak English? |
| Non parlo molto inglese. | I don’t speak much English. |
| Studio l’inglese. | I study English. |
| una parola inglese | an English word |
| un corso di inglese | an English course |
In a polite conversation, you can ask Parla inglese? to one person using the formal “you.” With a friend, use Parli inglese? The word inglese remains the same; the verb ending signals the difference in formality.
Example Sentences
Capisco l’inglese, ma lo parlo poco.
kah-PEES-koh leen-GLAY-zeh, mah loh PAR-loh POH-koh
Meaning: I understand English, but I speak it a little.
Vorrei un menu in inglese, per favore.
vohr-RAY oon meh-NOO een een-GLAY-zeh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Meaning: I’d like a menu in English, please.
Le parole inglesi sono diverse.
leh pah-ROH-leh een-GLAY-zee SOH-noh dee-VEHR-seh
Meaning: The English words are different.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using an English capital letter everywhere: in ordinary Italian sentences, language names are lowercase, so write inglese, not Inglese, unless it starts a sentence.
Forgetting the plural: the adjective changes from inglese to inglesi with plural nouns. For example, un film inglese but film inglesi.
Adding an article after every verb: say Parlo inglese and Studio inglese in common contexts. The article appears naturally in other structures, such as L’inglese è interessante.
Confusing English with British: inglese may refer to England, while britannico refers to the United Kingdom as a whole. Context matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tap a question below to see the answer.
Is “English” masculine or feminine in Italian?
As the name of the language, l’inglese is normally masculine singular. As an adjective, inglese has the same singular form with masculine and feminine nouns; the plural is inglesi.
How do I say “I speak English”?
Say Parlo inglese. Italian often omits the subject pronoun because the verb ending already identifies “I.”
Should I say inglese or britannico?
Use inglese for the English language or something from England. Use britannico when you mean British or related to the United Kingdom.
Summary: English in Italian
Inglese is the Italian word for “English.” Say Parlo inglese for “I speak English,” and use l’inglese when referring to the language as a noun. The adjective is inglese in the singular and inglesi in the plural. Remember the stress in in-GLÉ-se and use lowercase for language names in ordinary Italian writing.
