Learn Hardcore Italian: La fortuna aiuta chi studia con passione.

In Italian, abstract nouns used in a general or proverbial sense usually take the definite article. So la fortuna literally means “the fortune,” but in English we drop “the” in proverbs. Omitting la in Italian would sound odd here.

Why does the verb aiuta end in -a instead of -o (first person) or -ano (third person plural)?

Italian verbs agree with their subjects. Here, the subject is la fortuna (third person singular), so the verb takes the third-person singular ending -a. If the subject were plural (e.g. le persone), you’d use aiutano.

Why is chi used instead of che in chi studia con passione?

Che is a relative pronoun meaning “that/which” and links clauses. Chi means “whoever” or “one who” and introduces an indefinite subject. In proverbs, chi expresses “those who” or “whoever.”

If chi can refer to more than one person, why is the verb studia singular and not studiano?

When chi is the subject, the verb is always third person singular, even if you think of a group. So you say chi studia (“whoever studies”), never studiano.

Why is there no article before passione in con passione? Would con la passione be possible?

With con + an abstract noun to indicate manner, Italians typically drop the article: con passione means “with passion.” Adding la (con la passione) is grammatically correct but sounds less natural and more specific, as if you refer to a particular passion.

Could we use an adverb like appassionatamente instead of con passione?

Yes. You could say La fortuna aiuta chi studia appassionatamente (“Fortune helps those who study passionately”). However, con passione is more idiomatic in proverbs and clearly emphasizes the manner of studying.

Why is the present tense used here? Can we say aiuterà instead of aiuta?

In Italian, the present tense often expresses general truths and timeless maxims. Changing to future (La fortuna aiuterà chi studia con passione) is grammatically correct—“fortune will help those who study with passion”—but it sounds like a prediction rather than a proverb.

Is the word order flexible? Could we say Chi studia con passione aiuta la fortuna?

Italian word order is relatively flexible, but the unfussy, classic layout of this proverb is La fortuna aiuta chi studia con passione. Fronting the clause (Chi studia…) is possible for emphasis or poetic effect, but it isn’t the usual spoken form.

How do you pronounce fortuna and passione? Where is the stress?

In fortuna, the stress falls on the second syllable: for-TOO-na. In passione, it’s on the “sio” syllable: pas-SYO-ne.