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Italian Reading Practice: Beginner (A1)

Updated 30 Oct 2026 3 min read LingoLadder Editorial Team
Cover: Italian reading practice for beginners — read, gist, new words, answer
Short answer

This page gives you two short, original Italian texts at beginner (A1) level, with the new words glossed and comprehension questions. Read each text first for the general idea, then again slowly, and check the word list only when you are stuck.

On this page8 sections · tap to jump
  1. 01By the end of this page you can…
  2. 02How to use this page
  3. 03Reading 1: La giornata di Anna
  4. 04Reading 2: Marco e il fine settimana
  5. 05How to say it
  6. 06Example sentences
  7. 07Comprehension practice
  8. 08Quiz

Level: A1 (beginner). Reading is one of the gentlest ways to grow your Italian, because you set the speed. Below are two short texts written for beginners, with the new words explained and questions to check what you understood.

By the end of this page you can…

…read two short A1 Italian texts, work out the new words, and answer simple comprehension questions.

How to use this page

  1. Read once for the gist. Do not stop at every word. What is the text about? Who is in it?
  2. Read again, slowly. Try to guess any new words from the sentence around them.
  3. Check the word list under each text — but only for the words you could not guess.
  4. Read it aloud once, or play the audio sentences, so you hear the words too.
  5. Answer the questions at the bottom without looking back, then check.

Reading 1: La giornata di Anna

Anna è una studentessa. Abita in un piccolo appartamento con sua sorella. Ogni mattina si alza alle sette. Fa la doccia e fa colazione. Beve il caffè con il latte. Le piace molto il caffè.

Anna va all’università in autobus. Le lezioni cominciano alle nove. All’una pranza con i suoi amici. Nel pomeriggio studia a casa.

La sera Anna guarda la televisione o legge un libro. Alle undici va a letto. È stanca, ma è felice.

New words (Reading 1)

Word Meaning Example from the text
la studentessa a (female) student Anna è una studentessa.
abita lives (abitare) Abita in un piccolo appartamento.
si alza gets up (alzarsi) Ogni mattina si alza alle sette.
fa colazione has breakfast Fa la doccia e fa colazione.
in autobus by bus Anna va all’università in autobus.
pranza has lunch (pranzare) All’una pranza con i suoi amici.
stanca tired (feminine) È stanca, ma è felice.

Reading 2: Marco e il fine settimana

Marco non lavora il sabato e la domenica. Il sabato mattina gioca a calcio con suo fratello al parco. Amano molto il calcio. Dopo la partita hanno fame, quindi mangiano molto.

Nel pomeriggio Marco va a fare la spesa. Compra pane, uova, frutta e verdura.

La domenica Marco resta a casa. Pulisce l’appartamento e telefona a sua madre. La sera cucina per due amici. Mangiano, parlano e ridono insieme. È un bel fine settimana.

New words (Reading 2)

Word Meaning Example from the text
il fine settimana the weekend Marco e il fine settimana.
hanno fame they are hungry (avere fame) Dopo la partita hanno fame.
fare la spesa to do the food shopping Marco va a fare la spesa.
la verdura vegetables Compra frutta e verdura.
resta a casa stays at home La domenica Marco resta a casa.
telefona phones, calls (telefonare) Telefona a sua madre.

How to say it

Italian is read as written, but these sounds need care:

  • c and g are soft before e/i: cominciano ≈ “ko-MIN-cha-no”, gioca ≈ “JO-ka”.
  • gli is a soft “lli” as in “million”: figli ≈ “FEE-lyee”.
  • gn is “ny” as in “canyon”: bagno ≈ “BA-nyo”.
  • Double consonants are held longer: appartamento, mattina — linger on the doubled letter.

Example sentences

Listen to key sentences from the texts, then read them aloud.

  1. Anna è una studentessa.
    Anna is a student.
  2. Ogni mattina si alza alle sette.
    Every morning she gets up at seven.
  3. Anna va all'università in autobus.
    Anna goes to university by bus.
  4. All'una pranza con i suoi amici.
    At one o'clock she has lunch with her friends.
  5. La sera legge un libro.
    In the evening she reads a book.
  6. Marco gioca a calcio al parco.
    Marco plays football at the park.
  7. Dopo la partita hanno fame.
    After the match they are hungry.
  8. Telefona a sua madre.
    He phones his mother.
  9. È un bel fine settimana.
    It is a nice weekend.

Recap card for the Italian beginner reading practice with the key steps and a friendly study buddy

Quick recap before you answer the questions.

Comprehension practice

Practice

Reading comprehension practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 A che ora si alza Anna? (What time does Anna get up?)
Show answer

alle sette — The text says she gets up at seven; lessons start at nine.

2 Con chi gioca a calcio Marco?
Show answer

con suo fratello — On Saturday morning he plays with his brother.

Hint: a white drink

Show answer

latte — The text says she drinks coffee with milk (latte).

Hint: does not go out

Show answer

resta — On Sunday Marco stays at home: resta a casa.

5 Match each person to what they do.

  • Anna va all'università
  • Marco fa la spesa
  • Anna legge un libro
  • Marco pulisce l'appartamento
Show answer
  • Anna va all'università → in autobus
  • Marco fa la spesa → nel pomeriggio
  • Anna legge un libro → la sera
  • Marco pulisce l'appartamento → la domenica

Each pair matches a routine from the two texts.

6 Put Anna's day in order.

Show answer

si alza va all'università pranza va a letto — Up first, then university, lunch at one, and bed at eleven.

Quiz

Check yourself

Beginner Italian reading quiz

8 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/8 0 answered
  1. 1Dove abita Anna? (Where does Anna live?)
    Show answer

    in un piccolo appartamento con sua sorella — The text says she lives in a small flat with her sister.

  2. 2Cosa fa Anna nel pomeriggio?
    Show answer

    studia a casa — In the afternoon she studies at home; TV is in the evening.

  3. 3Quando NON lavora Marco?
    Show answer

    il sabato e la domenica — Marco does not work at the weekend — Saturday and Sunday.

  4. 4Perché Marco e suo fratello mangiano molto?
    Show answer

    hanno fame dopo la partita — After the match they are hungry, so they eat a lot.

  5. 5Cosa compra Marco quando fa la spesa?
    Show answer

    pane, uova, frutta e verdura — He buys bread, eggs, fruit and vegetables.

  6. 6'si alza' means she gets up. Why is there no 'lei'?
    Show answer

    Italian drops the subject pronoun; the verb shows it — Italian is pro-drop: the ending already tells you the subject.

  7. 7Il primo passo migliore con un testo nuovo è…
    Show answer

    leggere una volta per l'idea — Read for the gist first; check only the words you cannot guess.

  8. 8La parola 'stanca' significa…
    Show answer

    tired / needing rest — Anna is stanca (tired), but she is happy (felice).

Next

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