---
title: "Learn Italian by reading real Italian | ContextCat"
description: "Learn Italian by reading real Italian news, books and your own PDFs on iPhone. Tap any word to see what it means in that sentence, in your language."
url: https://contextcat.app/languages/italian
---

[ContextCat](https://contextcat.app/)[Languages](https://contextcat.app/languages)

# Learn Italian by reading real Italian

Read real Italian, from RaiNews to Il Post's culture pages, and tap any word to see what it means in that sentence, in your own language.

[Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6737737343?pt=122713589&ct=site_lang_italian&mt=8)

Ho perso il treno per un **pelo**.

pelo _noun_

a hair; here, per un pelo: only just, by a whisker

Literally by a hair. I missed the train by a whisker.

Italian, explained in English. You choose the language of your explanations.

## What to read in Italian

Today, the daily edition, has headlines from Italian outlets, including RaiNews, Il Post Cultura, Focus.it, Geopop and Dissapore. Open one and the article opens in the reader, where every word can be tapped.

You can also bring your own Italian: import a PDF, save a link to a web article, or paste text. Whatever you read, it stays in Italian, and help appears only where you ask for it.

## How a tap helps

The word turns bold and a note opens under its sentence with the meaning it has here, in your own language. Word analysis gives the root and the form. Select a few words or a sentence to translate just that part.

Every word you tap is saved with its sentence and comes back as a card, at longer and longer gaps, until you know it. Listen reads books, PDFs and your texts aloud in a natural Italian voice, sentence by sentence.

## Is it right for you?

ContextCat works best once you know enough Italian to follow a simple text and want to read more of it. If you are starting from zero, begin with a course, and come back when short texts feel within reach. The [guides](https://contextcat.app/guides) have ideas on where to start.

## Read next

-   [How many words do you need to read the news in another language?](https://contextcat.app/guides/how-many-words-do-you-need-to-read-the-news)
-   [How to learn a language by reading](https://contextcat.app/guides/how-to-learn-a-language-by-reading)

## Questions

### Can I learn Italian with ContextCat?

ContextCat helps you learn Italian by reading it. Tap any word in a Italian text and it explains what the word means in that sentence, in your own language, then brings the word back later for review. It does not replace a course for grammar or speaking.

### What is there to read in Italian?

Today's edition has headlines from Italian outlets such as RaiNews, Il Post Cultura, Focus.it. The Store has books and articles, and you can import your own Italian PDFs, web articles and texts.

### Is ContextCat free for Italian?

Yes, to start. The free plan includes 25 word explanations, 15 sentence translations a day and 3 imports, in every language. ContextCat Pro removes the limits.

## Other languages

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