The official language spoken in Italy is Italian. It is the most widely spoken language across the country and has its roots in the medieval Tuscan dialect of Florence. Italian is a Romance language closely related to Latin and is used in education, media, and government throughout Italy
. In addition to Italian, Italy is home to several minority languages and regional dialects. Some of these minority languages include German, French, Slovene, Albanian, Catalan, Sardinian, Occitan, Ladin, Friulian, and Croatian. Sardinian, spoken on the island of Sardinia, is the largest minority language group with about one million speakers, though it is declining. Other minority languages and dialects include Griko (a Greek dialect), Gardiol (a dialect of Occitan), Vastese, Toitschu (a German dialect), and Molise Croatian
. Regional dialects such as Sicilian and Neapolitan also differ significantly from standard Italian in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar, and they are still spoken in various parts of the country, especially in the south
. In summary:
- Official language: Italian (based on Tuscan dialect)
- Recognized minority languages: German, French, Slovene, Albanian, Catalan, Sardinian, Occitan, Ladin, Friulian, Croatian, Greek (Griko), among others
- Regional dialects: Sicilian, Neapolitan, and many others, varying widely by region
Italian is the dominant language nationwide, with minority languages and dialects preserved primarily in specific regions
