If I learn italian could I undestand latin and viceversa?

Question

I suppose both languages are very similar or not?

Answer 1

They're not as close as you'd think. They're as close as Old English is to today's English---almost mutually unintelligible. I speak, read and write Italian, and Latin doesn't even make sense to me.

Answer 2

I'm Italian, I've studied Latin but almost all the times I need for a dictionary to understand Latin's sayings or writings.
It's true that Italian comes from Latin but it evolved a lot and their syntax (and phrasing constructions) are totally different. Latin uses cases (nominative, genitive, accusative, ect.) while Italian don't. Therefore if you study Italian you can understand just a few Latin words that are still the same or quite similar but this is also valid for English that has many words of Latin origin. Also a lot of Italian words written in the same way as in Latin have different meanings in the 2 languages.

Answer 3

You'd be very suprised at how differently the two are. Sometimes you can tell where the word derived from just like modern English. But it's rather rare. It's easier to understand a language such as Spanish or Romanian. Because the languages are Latin derived and the continents are close (somewhat, Romania is farther away, yet still has a similar language).

So basically, you're going to understand as much Latin when you speak Italian, as you when you speak English. But if you speak Latin, it makes it slightly easier to understand other languages derived from it.

Answer 4

A big NO and a small yes to your question.
Assuming Latin you referred to is Late Latin,--------the language spoken and written only in Vatican City, or widely used in 10-15th century by the church and scholars. It bears no direct relations with Italian, which is a descent of Vulgar Latin, that is quite different from Late Latin.

Since Italian borrowed many words directly from Late Latin. That may help you understand. but the same is true with English, which had many Latin words.

Answer 5

Absolutely not. Latin is a closed book to Italian speakers (including me) - they cannot understand even simple sentences without special study, any more than an English speaker can. As for sentence structure, Italian is very linear, much like English and most modern European languages. But Latin is more like a Rubik's cube ... well nigh impossible for ordinary mortals to read.

Answer 6

No. The languages have changed too much. I know Latin, but it doesn't let me understand Italian.

Answer 7

No more than an Italian could read Latin.

Answer 8

put it this way " it's all double dutch both laguages have grown so far apart that apart from very few words they have nothing in common" also latin is a language that is only used in two places : church, and for Medical " gobblede ****" to impress with superior knowledge and to make people sound inportant!, never been taught latin have some knowledge of it by studying latin text when i happen to get my eyes on it! cannot speak it apart from short sentences try it for sobriety tests and you failevery time!!

Answer 9

If you learn Italian, you have a better chance of understanding some Spanish and Portuguese than Latin.

I´m a native Spanish speaker.

Answer 10

Yes, I speak Portuguese and I can understand a little too. Very little. Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French... are Latin's sons if we can say it.