The Italian language worldwide connects people across continents. From Milan to Melbourne, from Cairo to Tokyo, it continues to inspire and unite. The 25th edition of the Week of the Italian Language in the World celebrates this extraordinary phenomenon — the beauty of a language that transcends geography and connects hearts.
A Global Celebration of the Italian Language Worldwide
Every October, the Week of the Italian Language in the World (October 13–19, 2025) brings together cultural institutes, universities, embassies, and schools across the globe to celebrate the richness of the Italian language worldwide. Promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), in collaboration with the Accademia della Crusca and the network of Italian Cultural Institutes, this event has become a cornerstone of linguistic diplomacy and cultural outreach.
The 2025 theme — “Italofonia: language beyond borders” — highlights a powerful idea: that Italian is more than the language of one country. It is the expression of a global community, bound by love for Italian culture, creativity, and human connection.
At Il Centro – Italian Language School for Foreigners in Milan, this idea is lived every day. In our classrooms, students from over sixty countries share a single passion — to speak Italian and to experience Italy through its words, gestures, and emotions.
What Does “Italofonia” Mean in the Italian Language Worldwide?
The word Italofonia evokes the concept of Francophonie or Hispanophonia: a network of people, institutions, and cultures united by a language. Yet, the Italian case is unique. While French and Spanish have long been promoted as international languages of diplomacy and commerce, Italian has spread through softer, subtler routes — through art, music, migration, fashion, design, and emotion.
Italofonia is not just about speaking Italian. It is about belonging to a world shaped by Italian ideas: the humanism of the Renaissance, the elegance of design, the passion of opera, the innovation of science, and the warmth of everyday life. Wherever there is a spark of Italian creativity, there is Italofonia.
From Dante to Digital: The Italian Language Worldwide
The journey of the Italian language worldwide began centuries ago. From Dante Alighieri’s “Divina Commedia” to the melodies of Verdi and Puccini, from the canvases of Leonardo to the screens of Fellini, Italian has always carried more than words — it has carried imagination.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, waves of Italian migration brought the language to the Americas, Australia, and Africa. Families, artisans, and dreamers carried their dialects, songs, and recipes, enriching new lands with fragments of Italy. Today, digital platforms, films, and music continue that journey. Millions learn Italian online, binge-watch Italian series, or discover their roots through genealogy and travel.
Learning Italian Worldwide: A Bridge Between Cultures
To learn Italian is to enter a living culture. At Il Centro in Milan, our communicative approach transforms grammar into experience. Every Italian course — from group lessons to online classes — is designed to help students communicate naturally, discover Italian culture, and connect with the Italian language worldwide.
“When I started learning Italian, I wanted to read Dante. Now, I use Italian to talk with friends from five different countries — and we all met at Il Centro.”
– A former student from Japan
Milan: The Beating Heart of Italofonia
If Italofonia is the network, Milan is one of its brightest nodes. The city represents the Italian language worldwide in action — where tradition meets innovation, where international students meet Italian culture, and where the language of beauty becomes the language of life.
Located in the Brera district, Il Centro embodies this Milanese spirit: open-minded, creative, and connected. The school collaborates with AFAM institutions (like the Accademia di Costume e Moda) and with universities and conservatories that attract students from all over the world. For many of them, learning Italian is the first step toward integration, friendship, and professional growth.
Language Beyond Borders: The Future of Italofonia
Today, the Italian language worldwide is spoken by about 85 million people, including native speakers, learners, and heritage speakers. It ranks among the most studied languages on the planet, thanks to Italy’s cultural influence and the growing demand for humanistic, artistic, and culinary knowledge.
In a world increasingly shaped by technology and globalization, Italian reminds us of something essential: communication is not only about transmitting data — it’s about sharing humanity. To speak Italian is to slow down, to listen, to savor words. It’s to remember that culture begins with dialogue.
Celebrating Connection Through Language
The 25th Week of the Italian Language in the World invites us all to celebrate that connection. To be part of Italofonia means to belong to a global family — diverse yet united by curiosity, creativity, and care for one another.
Join us in celebrating Italofonia. Discover our Italian language courses in Milan and online Italian lessons (all levels) — and become part of a global community where the Italian language worldwide goes beyond borders. 🇮🇹✨