When I first started learning Italian, I kept getting tripped up by the grammar. Why do Italians say “I have hunger” instead of “I’m hungry”? Or “I am gone” instead of “I went”?
That’s when I stumbled across something incredible that only a non-native Italian teacher like me would notice. So in this guide, I want to show you what it is plus I’ll share the 7 everyday Italian phrases that sound just like they’re straight out of a Jane Austen novel that will help you flip your mindset so you can speak Italian more naturally and think in Italian.
Pronti? (Ready?) Iniziamo! (Let’s get started!)
Introducing The Jane Austen Method — My Secret to Learning Italian Faster
As I was studying Italian, something fascinating happened. Every time I felt confused by grammar, a little voice in my head would whisper, “You’ve seen this before…”
And I had…in Jane Austen novels! That elegant, old-fashioned English like “I am gone,” “I have hunger,” “Pray, tell me” mirrors modern Italian structures almost perfectly. It’s like English once spoke the same way… and then moved on, while Italian kept its poetic rhythm.
That’s when I coined what I now call The Jane Austen Method— my unique approach to learning Italian by looking back at how English used to be spoken. Instead of forcing translations or memorising grammar rules, you connect the dots between old English and modern Italian. You see patterns, not just words. You think in structures, not translations.
And that’s the key to how to learn Italian faster. Because when grammar feels familiar and you can say “I am gone” and understand “sono andato” intuitively, the learning stops being hard work and starts to click.
So, whether you’re reading Pride and Prejudice or practicing your Italian verbs, remember: Fluency isn’t just about study — it’s about seeing the beauty in how languages evolve and connect. That’s the heart of The Jane Austen Method.
Let’s take a closer look!
Watch this lesson on my YouTube Channel
1. I am 40 years old → Ho quarant’anni
In English, age is something you are. In Italian, age is something you have. In Italian, you say:Ho quarant’anni = I have 40 years.
Grammar tip: “Ho” is the first-person singular of avere (to have). This structure is shared across other Romance languages too, like French and Spanish.
Jane Austen used an interesting structure too. In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet says:
“I am not one and twenty.”
Elizabeth doesn’t say “I’m twenty-one”, she says “I am not one and twenty” — reflecting an older English structure where age was counted or possessed. So next time you want to say your age in Italian, say: Ho quarant’anni — I have 40 years.
2. You look well → Ti trovo bene
Ti trovo bene literally means: I find you well
It’s the same trovare you’d use for “to find your keys.” But here, it’s about your impression of someone’s well-being. Like you’re stumbling upon their good energy!
For example: Ciao Marco! Ti trovo bene oggi!— “Hey Marco, you’re looking good today!”
In Pride and Prejudice, Lady Catherine says:
“Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; but, depend upon it, I will carry my point.”
“I hoped to find you reasonable” mirrors ti trovo bene. The emotional state is something perceived or found — not assumed or stated directly. Same concept. This poetic tone echoes the idea of finding someone well, not just in body but in spirit.
3. I went → Sono andato
Sono andato literally means: “I am gone”. It’s like saying: “I went” in English. Why?
In Italian, many verbs of movement use essere instead of avere in the past tense. So it’s literally: “I am gone to Rome” → Sono andato a Roma.
It’s called the passato prossimo. It feels like the present perfect in English (I have gone), but it’s used way more frequently.
We might say “I went to London” today, but back in Austen’s day, you’d hear:
“My father is gone to London, and Jane has written to beg my uncle’s immediate assistance; and we shall be off, I hope, in half-an-hour. ”
– Elizabeth Bennett
“I am glad you are come back, Lizzy.” – Mr. Bennett
“I am glad you are come, for there is such fun here!” – Lydia
This sounds just like Italian: Lui è andato a Londra = He is gone to London.
This is also the case with the verb tornare (to come back). For example:“I come back to Rome” → Sono tornato a Roma. In other words, I have come back to Rome
In both languages, the perfect tense uses “to be” instead of “to have” for movement. Try it yourself: Sono andata al mercato — I am gone to the market.
It’s all very elegant if you ask me :)
4. I’m hungry → Ho fame
Ho fame literally means “I have hunger” in Italian. This structure was also common in English. Hunger is something you possess, not something you are.
So:
- Ho fame = I have hunger → I’m hungry
- Ho sete = I have thirst → I’m thirsty
- Ho sonno = I have sleepiness → I’m tired
- Ho freddo = I have cold → I’m cold
5. I like it → Mi piace
Mi piace literally means: “It is pleasing to me”
This one trips everyone up. Want to say you like something? Remember, you’re not the subject of the sentence. The thing is! For example:
Mi piace il gelato = Ice cream is pleasing to me
Not: “I like ice cream.”
Ti piace la pizza? — Do you like pizza?
In Pride and Prejudice, Mr Bingley says:
“It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing,”
He doesn’t say he like that fact that Elizabeth cares for her sister but that it is pleasing to him.
Here are some more examples:
Mi piace il tè — Tea pleases me → I like tea.
Ti piace Jane Austen? — Does Jane Austen please you? → Do you like Jane Austen?
6. Can you tell me? → Prego, mi dica
Prego, mi dicaliterally means: “Pray, tell me”
This versatile word is one of the first you learned. Prego literally means “I pray” or “please.” While Mi dica means “Tell me” (formal command)
Put it together: Prego, mi dica = “Please, tell me. You’ll hear this all the time from shopkeepers or staff.
This is pure Regency elegance. In Pride and Prejudice, you’ll hear various characters say:
“Pray do, my dear Miss Lucas.”
“Pray, tell your sister that I long to see her.”
“Pray, do not talk of that odious man. ”
Yes! Pray, tell me = Prego, mi dica!
In modern Italian, it’s used all the time: Prego, mi dica — Go ahead, tell me (formal). Even though it sounds aristocratic in English, it’s just everyday politeness in Italian.
Why does Italian feels so poetic?
Wondering why Italian feels so poetic? It’s because its grammar never hurried to modernise. While English evolved and simplified over the centuries, Italian held onto many of the graceful structures that once filled the pages of Jane Austen’s novels. It’s as if Italian froze time, preserving the elegance, rhythm, and expressiveness that English gradually left behind. Speaking Italian is like opening a window to the past: every phrase feels lyrical, every sentence a touch of poetry.
How to Use The Jane Austen Method to Learn Italian Faster
Now that you’ve seen how Italian mirrors the elegant phrasing of old English, here’s how to apply The Jane Austen Method which is the mindset shift that helps you learn Italian faster and think more like a native speaker.
1. Notice the Parallels
When you come across Italian phrases that seem unusual — like “Ho fame” or “Sono andato” — think of how Jane Austen might have written them in English: “I have hunger.” “I am gone.” Recognising these parallels makes Italian grammar feel natural and familiar instead of foreign or confusing.
2. Translate Like It’s 1813, Not 2025
Stop trying to match every Italian sentence to modern English. Instead, think like an English speaker from Austen’s time. When you read or listen to Italian, imagine it through that older lens as it instantly bridges the gap between the two languages.
3. Read with Curiosity, Not Perfection
When you encounter a tricky Italian phrase, don’t panic or overanalyse. Ask yourself, “How would Jane Austen have said this in English?”
This curiosity helps you see patterns, not problems — which is the real secret to how to learn Italian faster.
4. Practice the Elegant Way
Try using The Jane Austen Method during your study time:
- Read a passage in Italian, then rephrase it in old-fashioned English.
- Listen for poetic or formal phrases in movies or audiobooks and note the similarities.
- Use your cheat sheet to compare Italian phrases with their “Austen-style” English twins.
5. Think Like a Character in a Novel
When you start to think in this way, Italian grammar stops being mechanical. It becomes expressive, emotional — almost theatrical. You’re not just translating; you’re embodying the rhythm and elegance of the language.
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