Imparo il russo.

I am learning Russian.

Breakdown of Imparo il russo.

• imparare: to learn
• russo: Russian

Questions & Answers about Imparo il russo.

Why is imparo used here, and what form is it?

Imparo is the first-person singular form of the verb imparare (to learn), in the present indicative.

So:

• io imparo = I learn / I am learning

Italian present tense often covers both:

• a general habit: I learn
• what is happening now: I am learning

That is why imparo works naturally here.

Why isn’t the subject io written?

Italian often drops subject pronouns when they are not needed.

The ending of the verb already tells you who the subject is:

• imparo = I learn
• impari = you learn
• impara = he/she learns

Because imparo already clearly means I, Italians usually just say Imparo il russo rather than Io imparo il russo.

You can still say io for emphasis, contrast, or clarity:

• Io imparo il russo, lui impara il tedesco.

Why is there il before russo?