Learn Italian A2 in English
After A1, you move into full daily-life territory — appointments, errands, and getting around town without feeling lost. A2 is also the Italian level required for a long-term residence permit.
Try the first unit freeHow long does this level take? 9 weeks
What does A2 mean in Italian?
A2 is the second of the six levels of the CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) and the top of the “basic user” range. In Italian, an A2 speaker understands sentences and frequently used expressions about areas of immediate relevance, such as family, shopping, work and local geography, communicates in simple, routine tasks that need a direct exchange of information, and describes their background and surroundings in simple terms.
In practice, A2 is the level where you can get things done: make an appointment, handle a small problem, talk about what you did yesterday and make plans. It is also the level Italy requires for the long-term (EC) residence permit, and it is the base for the B1 used in citizenship applications.
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A2 vs B1: what actually changes
| Skill | A2 | B1 |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | You manage short routine exchanges, often with hesitation and help. | You hold a real conversation, tell a story and give reasons for your opinion. |
| Listening | You understand the main point of short, clear messages. | You follow the main points of longer conversations and short audio at normal speed. |
| Reading | You read short simple texts and find specific information. | You read straightforward texts on familiar topics and understand the line of an argument. |
| Writing | You write short notes and messages on everyday topics. | You write connected text on familiar topics, such as an email to an office or an employer. |
| Grammar | The passato prossimo, reflexive verbs, articulated prepositions and object pronouns. | The imperfect against the passato prossimo, the first uses of the subjunctive and the conditional. |
Who needs Italian A2?
A2 is a goal in itself for several learners.
Applicants for a long-term residence permit
A2 Italian has been required for the long-term EC residence permit since December 2010. Check which proof your prefettura accepts.
People settling in Italy
A2 lets you handle daily paperwork and simple conversations with officials.
Learners building toward B1
B1 is the level used in citizenship by marriage or residency, and A2 is the base for it.
Anyone who wants a clear milestone
The official A2 certificates give you a recognized proof of level.
Exams around A2
A2 is the level Italy requires for the residence permit. Always check which exam and which level your file or program names.
CILS, CELI and PLIDA at A2
The three main institutes all cover A2. The certificates are pass or fail. Your prefettura keeps its own list of accepted proofs, so check it before booking.
Lerniyo’s A2 mock exam
At the end of the level, a mock exam in the style of these exams covers listening, reading, writing and speaking. It prepares you, but it is not an official certificate.
Lerniyo's exam is built in the style of recognized Italian certificates (CILS, CELI, PLIDA) — it is not an official registration with any of those institutes. The Lerniyo certificate is a completion certificate for our own curriculum.
What you study in Italian A2
A2 adds the past, daily routines and the ability to compare and plan.
- The passato prossimo
- “Ho mangiato.” “Sono andato al lavoro.” The past with avere or essere and the participle.
- Reflexive verbs
- “Mi alzo alle sette.” “Si chiama Karim.”
- Articulated prepositions
- “Vado al supermercato.” “Esco dall’ufficio.” “Il libro è sul tavolo.”
- Direct and indirect pronouns
- “Lo compro.” “Gli do il libro.” “Mi dici la verità.”
- The near future and the simple future
- “Domani vado dal medico.” “Domani andrò dal medico.”
- The imperfect, first uses
- “Da bambino abitavo a Rabat.”
- Comparatives
- “Milano è più grande della mia città.” “È il ristorante migliore.”
- Health, shopping and appointments
- Phone calls, making an appointment, describing a problem to a doctor or an office.
Mistakes to avoid at A2
- Using the wrong auxiliary in the past: “Ho andato” instead of “Sono andato”.
- Forgetting that the participle agrees with essere: “Sono andata” for a woman.
- Dropping the articulated preposition: “Vado a il bar” instead of “Vado al bar”.
- Placing pronouns wrongly: “Dici mi” instead of “Mi dici”.
- Using “tu” with officials: use “Lei” in formal settings.
- Staying on the page. Practise speaking with Nour until short exchanges feel automatic.
A realistic study plan for A2
Lerniyo’s A2 track is planned as about 9 weeks at 15 to 20 minutes a day. That is only an estimate. A simple weekly rhythm:
- 1
Review A1 and learn the past
Keep the A1 words alive with spaced review, then learn the participles before the irregular verbs.
- 2
Do one grammar point a week
For example the passato prossimo, then reflexive verbs, then articulated prepositions, each with short exercises and a paragraph of your own.
- 3
Practice real situations
Make an appointment, talk to an office, describe a problem, and say them out loud with Nour.
- 4
Listen every day
Short clear audio at your level, such as dialogues and announcements. Play them twice.
- 5
Take the A2 mock exam
Sit a timed mock, review the points you get wrong and repeat before booking the official exam.
What you'll be able to do after A2
- Manage your appointments (doctor, bank, post office)
- Talk about your job, your routine, and your hobbies
- Understand simple notices and paperwork (a bill, a lease)
- Ask for and give directions in more detail
- Have a short conversation with a neighbor or a shopkeeper
- Handle the basics of Italy's residence-permit paperwork
What you'll do every day
Vocabulary
Words for work, housing, and daily errands
Grammar
Passato prossimo (the past tense), prepositions, and simple compound sentences
Listening
Longer everyday dialogues at a more natural pace
Speaking
Your first real live conversation with Nour
Sample sentences you'll learn in A2
Ieri sono andato al mercato.
Passato prossimo with essere — used with movement verbs.
Ho un appuntamento dal dottore.
avere + appointment — a phrase you'll use constantly.
Puoi aiutarmi, per favore?
A simple way to ask for help.
Vado in ufficio postale per il permesso di soggiorno.
A real errand many learners face early in Italy.
At the post office
Buongiorno, ho un appuntamento per il permesso di soggiorno.
Hello, I have an appointment for the residence permit.
Ha tutti i documenti con lei?
Do you have all the documents with you?
Sì, ecco il passaporto e il modulo.
Yes, here's the passport and the form.
Perfetto, si accomodi.
Perfect, please take a seat.
What will you learn in Italian A2?
- Passato prossimo: talking about what happened
- Prepositions: a, in, da, per
- Appointments: the doctor, the bank, the post office
- Housing: the lease and bills
- Work and daily routine
- Hobbies and free time
- Directions and public transport in more detail
- Comparatives: più, meno
- Writing a short message or email
- Reflexive verbs, the basics
- Expressing a simple opinion
- The residence-permit basics (permesso di soggiorno)
Learn Italian A2 in English with Lerniyo
Most apps explain grammar using confusing jargon or a third language, adding difficulty on top of difficulty. Lerniyo explains everything in plain English, so you focus on Italian, not on decoding the explanation.
Italian A2: frequently asked questions
What does A2 mean in Italian?
A2 is the second CEFR level, the top of the basic user range. You understand frequently used expressions, handle simple routine tasks and describe your surroundings in simple terms.
How long does it take to reach A2?
About 9 weeks of study after A1, which is roughly 3.5 months from zero at a steady 15 to 20 minutes a day, based on Lerniyo’s estimates.
What is the difference between A2 and B1?
At A2 you manage short routine exchanges. At B1 you hold a real conversation, tell a story and give reasons for your opinion.
Is A2 required for the residence permit?
A2 Italian has been required for the long-term EC residence permit since December 2010. Confirm the current rule and accepted proof with your prefettura.
Which certificate proves A2?
The CILS, CELI and PLIDA all offer an A2 certificate. Check which ones your office accepts.
Is A2 enough for citizenship?
No. Citizenship by marriage or residency asks for B1, and citizenship by descent has no language test. Rules change, so confirm your case.
Can I learn Italian A2 in Arabic or Darija?
Lerniyo explains grammar and vocabulary in your own language, which makes A2 much easier to follow, and Nour gives you speaking practice with feedback.
Does Lerniyo replace the official exam?
No. Lerniyo prepares you with A2-style lessons and mock exams, but it is not an exam center. To get a certificate you must register for an official exam such as CILS, CELI or PLIDA.
Keep going
After A2 comes B1
See B1