About how many people speak english in Italy?

Question

My wife and myself are planning a trip to Italy for our 5th anniversary in 2009. I am planning on learning to speak Italian, but about what percentage of Italians speak english?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Another general thing you will notice is that the women are more likely to know English than men.

Answer 2

You can't trust statistical information, since a person who speaks 10 words of English will say that he/she "speaks English".  For most people in Italy, this is exactly the case.  They watch a few American TV shows and movies and learn a few words or phrases and that's about it.  (Much like Americans learn Italian from the Godfather movies.)

Learning another language is ALWAYS a good idea, and you should study as much as you can.  But don't stress over it.  Bring along a phrasebook-I like Lonely Planet (there's a great menu translation section in the back!).  Also, use nonverbal communication.  (Waving, pointing, and gesturing really go a long way here!  Even Italians do it.)

It shows respect to at least try, but no one expects a tourist to be fluent.  If you have to go to the Poste Italiane, or some other public office, it will be difficult to find an English speaker.  But usually, the person behind the counter will be as helpful as possible, and find someone who works there who speaks at least a bit of English.

Answer 3

trust me, these dialect people can never speak English, even good Italian. i would be over the moon if only my school professors would.

Answer 4

It depends on where you plan to go.

If you stay close to tourist routes then the percentage can be very high (let's prudentially estimate around 75/80% that are able to speak and understand some English, even if not fluently).

I disagree a previous answer since from an European statistic are the men who knows languages more than women.

Things dramatically changes if you go out from the tourist areas to travel the hided countryside (even more if you're in the southern regions) and to be really optimist you can find just a 10/15% of speaking English people.

However if you speak some Italian, even if not 100% correct, everybody will try to understand you and make you understand them. Don't forget that besides the language we have an additional way to  communicate. Have you ever seen an Italian speaking without moving his hands ??This will help a lot too!!

Enjoy yr next trip to Italy and don't worry too much about language.

Answer 5

Last official European study said 17% (compared to 67% peak in Denmark; only Greece had a lower percentage), but that's a few years ago; now should be a little higher, especially between younger people. And anyway it was a nationwide average: in holiday resort it should be 50% or over for obvious reason, so if you plan to visit the "usual" touristic places, no need to be worried, although people would really appreciate if you try to talk the local idiom.

Answer 6

about 50

Answer 7

more or less 85 % of italian people have at least an elementary knowledge of english.

Answer 8

It seems like they all know at least a few words and phrases and are more than willing to meet you half way.

Answer 9

If you are in a major city, nearly everyone speaks English.  It is only in the outskirts where less people speak English.  I was embarrassed when I realized how many people in Europe speak English and one or two other languages in addition to their native tongue.  I spent a week in Rome last year...loved it!!  Hope you enjoy.  Ciao!  -Cara

Answer 10

Hi, congratulations!  Okay, I've been living in Italy for around 8 years now....from experience I noticed that you will find more people who speak English in very touristy cities such as Florence or Venice, but very few who speak English in smaller less-known cities such as Reggio Emilia, Latina, Pistoia, etc.   If you go to a hotel or an office that deals in foreign affairs you'll most likely find someone who speaks English, but in general day-to-day life not very many do.  A lot of Italians learn English at school, but it's tourist/school academic English.....once they hear you speak in English they'll get all choked up and say they don't speak it.  I suggest you learn a bit of Italian to be on the safe side.

Answer 11

You will rarely have a problem.  Most people speak English fluently in the Metropolitan regions (kids learn it in school), and even in the countryside, you can always find a way to communicate.

But learning to speak Italian is great!  People always appreciate it when you make the effort.

Hope you're going to get to Rome, Venice, Florence, Tuscany and Umbria.  In case you haven't made plans yet and want a group tour, there's no better company than Tauck.  If you want to do independent travel, Untours is terrific. Both have websites.

Have a great time- I can't tell you what a treat you're in for- and you must try the gelato- many, many, many times!!!!!

Answer 12

90 % of young ppl speak at least some English, almost all shopkeepers in the touristic towns speak English too, but if you are pleaning to go to Italy, why you don't try to learn some Italian? it is not too hard and it's funny too.

Answer 13

It's about the same percentage as US Americans who speak Italian.