We learn Italian step by step | Impariamo l'italiano piano piano
Impariamo l’italiano piano piano is a story-based podcast designed for B1 to B2 Italian language learners who want to immerse themselves in engaging narratives while strengthening their grammar and vocabulary. Novices are welcome too—because we take everything piano piano, one gentle step at a time.
Each episode unfolds through an ongoing story, allowing you to experience Italian in context, naturally reinforcing key structures like the imperfetto, passato prossimo, and congiuntivo. You’ll also get guided practice, interactive exercises, and cultural insights to help you think, speak, and write in Italian with more confidence.
Your host Myra—an instructional designer and passionate language learner who understands the challenges of mastering Italian as an adult—is joined by Antonio, a familiar voice you’ll get to know throughout the episodes. Together, they guide you piano piano, step by step, toward greater fluency.
📜 Looking for full episode transcripts?
Transcripts not showing on your app? Find them here:
https://www.welearnitalianstepbystep.com
🎙 Listen, learn, and improve your Italian fluency—one chapter at a time!
We learn Italian step by step | Impariamo l'italiano piano piano
Episode 17: Combined Pronouns - The Basics
In this episode of Impariamo l’italiano piano piano, we start learning one of the most useful (and most confusing) parts of Italian grammar: combined object pronouns, also called pronomi combinati.
You’ve probably learned direct object pronouns like lo, la, li, le and indirect object pronouns like mi, ti, gli, le. But what happens when Italian needs to say both:
- to whom something is given
- and what is being given?
That’s where combined pronouns come in, and once you understand the logic, they start to feel surprisingly elegant.
In this first part of the lesson, we’ll cover:
- the difference between direct objects and indirect objects
- the basic rule: INDIRECT + DIRECT
- the sound change: mi → me, ti → te, ci → ce, vi → ve
- how gli becomes glielo, gliela, glieli, gliele
- why we get double consonants in commands like dammi and dammela
Plus, Antonio checks in on Paul after last episode’s mysterious window escape… and we share a quick clip from Paul about what the podcast has helped him learn.
In the next episode, we’ll continue with where combined pronouns go in the sentence, practice them in longer structures, and start working more with modal verbs and the passato prossimo.
A presto, and let’s keep going piano piano.
A guided online meetup to practice ci, ne, and Italian pronoun placement using Episodes 16–18.
To find the event go to https://www.meetup.com/italian-piano-piano-community-meetup/events/313017916, and you’ll find the event CI or NE? Mastering Italian Pronouns + Placement (Episodes 16–18)
I’d love to hear your thoughts on Impariamo l’italiano piano piano!
Here are a few ways you can connect with me:
- Subscribe to my blog here
- --->Leave me a voice message<---
You might even be featured on the show! - Take the listener survey
- Join us on meetup!
Email: welearnpianopiano@gmail.com
All content © 2026 Impariamo l’italiano piano piano – Un impegno quotidiano
🎧 Episode 17 – Combined Pronouns - The Basics
📄 Episode Transcript & Study Materials
For this episode, the full transcript is available on Substack, where it’s easier to read, search, and follow along with the explanations.
👉 Here is a link to all of my posts on Substack.
I’ve moved transcripts there so everything can live in one place: the episode text, examples, and Companion Series materials all together.
📘 Want the Study Guide and Practice Exercises?
If you’d like to go deeper, this episode is part of the Companion Series, which includes:
- A complete study guide with clear explanations
- Progressive practice exercises
- A detailed answer key with explanations
- Episode transcripts in one organized space
How to access them:
- Click “Support the Show” in any episode description to become a supporter
- If you’re already a podcast supporter, your substack subscription already includes access to the guides.
