When you think of the Italian language, chances are you’re picturing the elegant, lyrical flow of standard Italian, the kind that fills textbooks and language apps. But step off the train in Naples, Bari, or Cagliari, and you might find yourself wondering: Wait… is this still Italian?

Welcome to the world of Italian dialects!

Italy isn’t just a country, it’s a patchwork of regional identities, each with its own traditions, food, and yes, language. From the melodic roll of Neapolitan to the ancient rhythm of Sardinian, Italy’s dialects aren’t just accents, they’re living, breathing languages shaped by history, geography, and culture. Some are so distinct that even native Italian speakers struggle to understand them!

In this blog post, we’ll explore the rich linguistic landscape of Italy, uncovering the unique characteristics of dialects from Piedmont to Sicily, and even a few that don’t sound Italian at all. Whether you’re a language lover, a heritage learner, or a curious traveler, understanding these dialects can open a whole new dimension of Italian life.

Are you ready? Let’s dive in!

What Are Italian Dialects?

Before we dive into specific dialects, let’s clear up a common misconception: in Italy, dialect doesn’t just mean a regional accent or a variation of standard Italian. In many cases, Italian dialects are practically languages in their own right, some with completely different grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

A Brief History

The Italian we know today (Standard Italian) is based largely on Tuscan, specifically the Florentine dialect made famous by literary giants like Dante Alighieri and Petrarch. But long before Italy became a unified nation in the 19th century, it was a collection of independent kingdoms, duchies, and city-states. Each of these regions developed its own way of speaking, influenced by Latin, but also by neighboring countries, invaders, and trade partners.

That’s why you’ll find French influence in the north (like in Piedmontese), Arabic roots in the south (especially Sicilian), and even traces of Greek and Albanian in places like Calabria and Puglia.

Dialects vs. Languages

Linguistically speaking, many of these dialects could be considered separate languages. In fact, UNESCO and several linguistic organizations classify some of them, like Sardinian and Neapolitan, as distinct Romance languages rather than dialects of Italian. The Italian government, however, officially considers them “dialetti” (dialects).
Are Dialects Still Spoken Today?
Absolutely! But their usage varies widely. In some areas, especially rural or southern regions, dialects are still spoken at home and in daily life. In urban centers and among younger generations, standard Italian tends to dominate, especially in school and the media.

Still, many Italians switch fluidly between dialect and standard Italian depending on the context, a phenomenon known as diglossia. And in recent years, there’s been renewed interest in preserving dialects as cultural heritage.

 

Northern Italian Dialects

Northern Italy is home to a wide variety of dialects, many of which are grouped under the Gallo-Italic family, named for their historical ties to the Gallo-Romance languages of France. These dialects often sound very different from standard Italian and even from one another. Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent ones:

Milanese (Milanés)

• Region: Lombardy, especially Milan
• Influences: Celtic, Latin, French
• Interesting fact: Milanese is part of the Western Lombard dialect group and includes vocabulary that feels closer to French than Italian.

Milanese is characterized by nasal vowels and unique word endings. While younger generations in Milan mostly use standard Italian, Milanese still has cultural relevance in local songs, proverbs, and comedy. If you want to learn Milanese, we have some great Milanese online tutors at Strommen.

Piedmontese (Piemontèis)

• Region: Piedmont
• Influences: French, Occitan, Latin
• Interesting fact: Piedmontese was once used in newspapers and literature and even has its own standardized spelling system.

Today, Piedmontese is still spoken in many rural areas and among older generations. It’s known for soft consonants and a rhythmic melody, making it quite distinct from standard Italian. For example, “good morning” is bon dë in Piedmontese, compared to buongiorno in Italian.

Ligurian (Lìgure)

• Region: Liguria, especially around Genoa
• Influences: Latin, French, maritime languages
• Interesting fact: Genoese, a Ligurian dialect, was once a lingua franca of Mediterranean trade.

Ligurian has a sing-song quality and uses sounds not found in standard Italian. It’s classified by UNESCO as a severely endangered language, but preservation efforts are ongoing in local communities.

Emilian (Emigliàn)

• Region: Emilia (western part of Emilia-Romagna)
• Influences: Gallo-Romance roots
• Interesting fact: Emilian varies significantly between cities; Parma and Modena dialects, for instance, are quite different.

The Emilian dialect is known for its clipped vowels and rolling r sounds. It’s still used in casual speech, especially among older speakers, but less so in formal settings.

Venetian (Vèneto)

• Region: Veneto and parts of northeastern Italy
• Influences: Latin, Slavic, Germanic languages
• Interesting fact: Venetian was once the official language of the Republic of Venice and has a rich literary tradition.

Venetian is still widely spoken today and used in regional theater, folk music, and even social media. Venetian is often intelligible to non-speakers of Italian, making it a bridge language for tourists and locals alike.

Central Italian Dialects

Central Italy is home to some of the most influential dialects in the country, including the one that shaped modern standard Italian. These dialects generally fall into the Italo-Romance group and often act as a bridge between the more conservative northern dialects and the expressive, vowel-rich dialects of the south.

Fiorentino

• Region: Florence
• Influences: Classical Latin and medieval Tuscan
• Interesting fact: Fiorentino, the dialect of Florence, is the specific version of Tuscan that most influenced standard Italian.

With Fiorentino, you’ll hear exaggerated pronunciation in daily conversation, especially the softening of consonants. It’s considered prestigious, but also very expressive and musical in tone. If you want to learn Milanese, we have some great Fiorentino online tutors at Strommen.

Romano

• Region: Rome
• Influences: Latin, Neapolitan, and Sabino
• Interesting fact: The Roman dialect blends central and southern features and is heavily featured in Italian cinema and music.

Romano is casual, fast-paced, and full of idioms. You might hear ’ndo vai? Instead of dove vai? (“Where are you going?”). It’s widely understood and often used to convey humor and authenticity in pop culture. We have some amazing Roman / Romano slang tutors at Strommen to help you fit in at the stadium. 

Tuscan (Toscano)

• Region: Tuscany
• Influences: Latin, Etruscan, and neighboring dialects
• Interesting fact: Tuscan is the foundation of standard Italian, thanks largely to literary giants like Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio.

Tuscan is considered “neutral” Italian by many, but regional versions still have quirks, like the gorgia toscana, where c and t sounds are softened (e.g., casa becomes hasa). It’s clear, elegant, and often used in media and official speech.

Sabino

• Region: Northern Lazio, parts of Abruzzo
• Influences: Latin, Oscan, and other ancient Italic languages
• Interesting fact: Sabino preserves older Latin forms not found in other dialects.

Sabino, a lesser-known dialect, has a rugged, earthy sound and reflects the mountainous, rural culture of the region. Though not widely spoken anymore, it survives in poetry, songs, and local festivals.

Abruzzese

• Region: Abruzzo
• Influences: Central and Southern dialect features
• Interesting fact: Abruzzese is technically part of both central and southern dialect zones, depending on the province.

Abruzzese is rich in emotion and rhythm, often using elongated vowels and double consonants. Locals are proud of their dialect, which remains strong in small towns and rural areas. Moving to Abruzzo? Impress the locals by learning the dialect with an online Abruzzese tutor at Strommen. 

Southern Italian Dialects

Southern Italy’s dialects are vibrant, expressive, and full of personality. These dialects are part of the Italo-Dalmatian and Extreme Southern Italian linguistic groups, and they reflect centuries of history, from Greek colonization to Spanish and Arabic influences. Many of these dialects are still widely spoken in daily life, music, and media.

Napoletano (Neapolitan)

• Region: Naples and Campania
• Influences: Greek, Latin, Spanish, French, Arabic
• Interesting fact: Neapolitan is recognized by UNESCO as a distinct Romance language.

Napoletano is fast, melodic, and packed with emotion. You’ll hear it in Neapolitan songs, classic theater, and even in popular Italian TV. Phrases like comme stai? become comme staje?, and it’s known for its dramatic flair and lyrical tone. Learn Napoletano with an online Italian tutor at Strommen.

Dialetto Campano

• Region: Broader Campania region beyond Naples
• Influences: Neapolitan base with local variations
• Interesting fact: Dialetto Campano includes sub-dialects like Avellinese, Salernitano, and Casertano.

While closely related to Neapolitan, Dialetto Campano have their own unique vocabulary and pronunciation. In smaller towns, these versions are often preferred over standard Italian. We even have Dialetto Campano tutors at Strommen.

Barese

• Region: Bari and central Apulia (Puglia)
• Influences: Greek, Arabic, Spanish
• Interesting fact: Barese has an unmistakable intonation and is often used in comedy and satire.

Barese is fast, emphatic, and slightly nasal. Locals often shorten words and insert consonants, making it sound very different from standard Italian. For instance, amico becomes mèc.

Salentino

• Region: Salento Peninsula, southern Puglia
• Influences: Greek, Messapic, and Balkan languages
• Interesting fact: Salentino is often confused with Barese, but it’s a distinct dialect with strong vowel endings and a smoother rhythm.

Salentino has a musical tone and a softer delivery, often sounding more like a southern lullaby than a dialect. It’s also a key part of the local folk music scene.

Calabrese

• Region: Calabria
• Influences: Greek, Latin, Albanian, Byzantine
• Interesting fact: Calabrese is part of the “Extreme Southern Italian” dialect group and has many variants.

Known for its guttural sounds and ancient structure, Calabrese can sound completely foreign to northern Italians. It preserves elements from Greek colonization and is still used in storytelling and folk traditions.

Siciliano (Sicilian)

• Region: Sicily
• Influences: Greek, Arabic, Norman, Spanish
• Interesting fact: Sicilian has over 250 loanwords from Arabic alone and is considered one of the most linguistically diverse dialects in Italy.

Siciliano is rich, bold, and expressive, with a completely different cadence from standard Italian. Many consider Sicilian a language in its own right, and it has a deep cultural presence in poetry, theater, and oral history. Siciliano is basically its own language. Learn Siciliano online with one of our expert Italian tutors. 

Arbëreshë

• Region: Pockets in Calabria, Sicily, and southern Italy
• Influences: Albanian, Greek, Latin
• Interesting fact: Arbëreshë is an Albanian-origin dialect preserved by communities who fled the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century.

Arbëreshë is spoken alongside Italian and local dialects, making these villages linguistically unique. Efforts are underway to preserve Arbëreshë through schools and cultural programs.

Sardinian Dialects: A World Apart

Sardinia is often considered a linguistic outlier in Italy, and for good reason. The island’s dialects are so distinct that many linguists classify them as separate languages rather than Italian dialects. Sardinian, in particular, is regarded as the most conservative of the Romance languages, retaining many features lost in other Italian varieties.

Sardo (Sardinian)

• Region: Throughout most of Sardinia
• Influences: Latin, Catalan, Spanish, Byzantine Greek
• Interesting fact: Sardo is considered the closest living language to Latin.

There are two main variants: Logudorese (spoken in the north-central area) and Campidanese (in the south). Sardo has unique vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar, so much so that it’s often incomprehensible to speakers of standard Italian. For example, “I want to go” in Italian (voglio andare) becomes appo a andai in Logudorese. It is a powerful symbol of Sardinian identity. Strommen has online Sardo tutors ready to start lessons!

Sassarese (Sassaresu)

• Region: Northwestern Sardinia, especially in and around Sassari
• Influences: Corsican, Tuscan, Ligurian, Spanish
• Interesting fact: Sassarese is a transitional dialect, combining Sardinian roots with elements of Corsican and mainland Italian dialects.

Sassarese developed in urban areas with historical trade links and has a softer, more melodic sound than traditional Sardinian. Sassarese is often seen as a bridge between Sardo and mainland Italian dialects. Learn Sassarese online with one of our amazing tutors. 

Why Learn an Italian Dialect?

If you’re already learning standard Italian, you might be wondering: Why bother with dialects? After all, they’re not taught in most classrooms or textbooks. But that’s exactly what makes them so special, and so rewarding.

1. Connect with Local Culture on a Deeper Level

Learning a dialect allows you to tap into Italy’s rich local identities. From regional festivals to family dinners, dialects are often the language of real life in Italy. Even if people speak standard Italian, they often switch to dialect when they’re relaxed, joking, or telling stories.

2. Understand the Nuances of Italian History and Identity

Dialects preserve traces of Italy’s diverse past: Greek in Calabria, Arabic in Sicily, French in Piedmont, and even Albanian in the south. Each dialect tells the story of a region’s history, migrations, and values, learning one is like holding a piece of living heritage.

3. Find a Tutor Who Speaks Your Dialect of Interest

Whether you have family roots in a particular region or you’re planning to travel off the beaten path, a native tutor can help you dive deep into the dialect that matters most to you. On our platform, you can find Italian tutors who speak and teach regional dialects, from Neapolitan to Sicilian to Milanese.

At Strommen, we offer online and in-person Italian dialect classes with native tutors who bring authentic regional language and culture to life. Whether you’re in Los Angeles or learning from abroad, we’ll match you with the perfect instructor. Find an Italian Dialect tutor! 

Final Thoughts: Italy Speaks in Many Voices

Italy may be united by a national language, but its heart beats in dialect.

From the lyrical cadence of Neapolitan to the ancient rhythm of Sardinian, Italian dialects are living reflections of history, culture, and local identity. They carry generations of stories, humor, wisdom, and emotion that don’t always translate into standard Italian.

Whether you’re learning Italian for travel, reconnecting with your roots, or simply fascinated by language, exploring Italy’s dialects offers a deeper, more personal way to experience the country. Each dialect is a doorway into a unique community and a chance to speak like a true local.

Ready to learn more than just textbook Italian?

Strommen offers one-on-one Italian dialect lessons both online and in person with native speakers. Start your journey today, whether it’s Sicilian, Milanese, Barese, or beyond. 

Contact us for a consultation with our learning experts, or find tutor near you!