Italian is a Romance language that is the official language of Italy and is widely spoken in countries such as Switzerland, San Marino, and Vatican City. It is estimated that over 85 million people speak Italian as a first or second language.

Italian has a relatively simple grammar system, with a rich vocabulary and many loanwords from Latin, Greek, and other languages. The Italian language has a rich cultural and literary history, with famous works by writers such as Dante, Boccaccio, and Shakespeare, and is also an important language for international business and culture.

In addition to being spoken in Italy, Italian is also widely spoken by Italian expatriates and is studied as a second language by many people around the world. Italian uses the Latin alphabet and has a distinctive pronunciation and rhythm, with differences in vocabulary, grammar, and dialect between regional varieties of Italian, such as Tuscan, Sicilian, and Venetian.