Learn Corsican

Siate i benvenuti! Welcome!

Welcome to this enhanced conversation guide.

We've taken a hands-on approach to help you quickly learn the basics of a language.

We suggest you start by memorizing practical words and phrases that you can use every day at home and then use when you travel.

Practicing saying vocabulary aloud, numbers for example, is a good exercise that can be practiced at any time of the day.

This will get you used to the sounds of a language. And once your vacation begins in Ajaccio, Bastia, Porto-Vecchio, Borgo, Corte or anywhere else on this wonderful island, you'll be surprised at how familiar and easy it will already be to understand.

How to learn Corsican in 10 steps

1. Learn the alphabet and pronunciation of the sounds. Start by learning the Corsican alphabet and the pronunciation of the letters. This will help you read and pronounce Corsican words correctly.
2. Learn the basics of vocabulary. Start by learning common words and phrases that you can use in everyday conversation. Mastering the specific vocabulary of the language will help you understand the words you hear or see written.
3. Practice speaking. One of the best ways to learn a language is to listen to native speakers speak it. Watch YouTube videos, movies, and TV shows. Then repeat the words and phrases to improve your pronunciation. Even just talking to yourself, this exercise practiced regularly will make you progress dramatically (we created a unique tool dedicated to this training).
4. Learn the basics of grammar. Like all languages, Corsican has its own grammatical rules. Learn the basics of Corsican grammar, such as verbs, nouns, articles and pronouns. This will help you construct simple correct sentences in Corsican.
5. Find a conversation partner. Practice speaking with native speakers or other learners. Use the words and phrases you've learned to introduce yourself, talk about your interests, ask questions, etc. The more you practice, the more you will improve your comprehension and expression.
6. Read in Corsican. Read books, newspapers and magazines in Corsican to help you better understand the language.
7. Find the right teaching resources. There are many books, online courses, apps and websites that can help you learn Corsican. Choose the resources that suit you and that you feel are appropriate for your level and goals.
8. Join a language class with a teacher. Taking a class with a qualified teacher can help you learn the language faster. There are many sites that allow you to find qualified teachers.
9. Anticipate periods of stagnation. After a few months, you'll feel like you're not making any progress: there are always periods of rapid, visible progress, followed by periods when progress is no longer noticeable. The best way to get through these difficult periods is to continue to improve by diversifying your learning sources.
10. Be regular and consistent. It is better to spend a few minutes a day practicing than an hour once a week. Learning a new language can take time and patience, but by persevering, you will eventually reach your goal of mastering Corsican. Keep studying and practicing to improve your skills and reach your learning goals. And never lose sight of this: fun is the best driver of any learning.

Introduction to the Corsican language

Corsican is a Romance language, belonging to the Italo-Romance language family. It is spoken in Corsica, a French island located in the Mediterranean Sea. Corsican is the native language of the majority of Corsicans, although it is also possible to find speakers in Italy, France and other countries.

It is very close to Italian, but also includes influences from ancient Greek and French. Corsican has a complex grammar, with genders and declensions, and has a large number of words that are not common to other Romance languages. It is also characterized by high dialectal variability, with many local dialects that are often very different from one another.

Corsican is an official language in Corsica, alongside French. It is taught in schools and universities on the island, as well as abroad, particularly in Italy. Despite this, Corsican is considered an endangered language, as its use tends to decrease over time.

Corsican is a rich-sounding language, with a wide variety of consonants and vowels. Its grammar is relatively complex, with verb forms and conjugations that can vary according to tense, mode and subject. Corsican also has a rich oral and written literature, with poems, songs, tales and legends that are often passed down from generation to generation.

Is it possible to learn Corsican alone?

We're not going to lie to you, it's not easy to learn a language without guidance.

But it's always worth starting with an accessible, free online course if it gets results. It's very motivating to be able to say a few hundred important words after only a few weeks!

We've taken a practical, hands-on approach to learning to speak a language easily and quickly: we suggest that you start by memorizing practical words, phrases, and sentences that you can use every day at home to practice and that will then come in handy when you travel.

Practicing pronouncing vocabulary aloud, numbers for example, is a good exercise that can be practiced at any time of the day. This will get you used to the sounds of the language, make it familiar to listen to, and once your vacation begins in Corsica, you'll be surprised at how familiar and easy to understand it already is.

Also, using a pocket dictionary will always come in handy when traveling to find translations of unfamiliar words and expand your vocabulary regularly.

Why speak Corsican when traveling?

Corsica: an alliance of culture and nature

While one immediately thinks of the beaches, one should not underestimate the other points of attraction of the island of beauty. Corsica is rich in culture and heritage, carefully preserved over the years. In addition to its natural beauty, Corsica offers, for example, an exceptional cuisine, which reflects the diversity of its land.

Corsican cuisine is generally considered a gastronomic treasure. The island's traditional dishes are composed of fresh, local ingredients, such as fish and seafood, charcuterie, sheep's milk cheese and vegetables grown in the mountains. The most famous dishes of Corsican cuisine include the famous "civet de sanglier" (wild boar stew), "figatellu" (pork liver sausage), and "brocciu," a fresh sheep's or goat's milk cheese that is used in many recipes.

In addition to its delicious cuisine, Corsica is also rich in cultural heritage. For example its traditional music, and in particular polyphonic choral songs, are beautiful. These songs, often performed by groups of male voices, are an integral part of Corsican culture and are often associated with festivals and celebrations.

Finally, this island is known for its festivals and cultural events, which attract thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. Among the most famous are the Festival of Porto Latino, the Festival of Calvi, and the Film Festival of Lama.

In short, Corsica is much more than a beach destination. It is a place where natural beauty meets rich and diverse culture, offering a unique experience to all who visit.

A history and age-old traditions

Corsica is an island full of historical riches. Indeed, it is associated with the history of Napoleon Bonaparte, the famous French emperor, who was born here and left an indelible mark. Many monuments, museums and tourist attractions are dedicated to his memory and allow you to discover the fascinating history of the island.

Corsica is also known for its craft traditions. Corsican cutlery is renowned for its quality and craftsmanship, with knives made using ancestral techniques. Corsican pottery is highly appreciated for its patterns and finesse.

However, despite this cultural richness, the Corsican language is in danger. Only about 30,000 people speak the language fluently, which classifies it as an endangered language according to UNESCO criteria. This is why it is important to preserve and promote this language. If you travel to the island, feel free to learn a few words of Corsican and use them when talking to locals, they will be delighted to see that you are interested in their culture and language.

How to succeed in having a good pronunciation of Corsican within a week to a month

Corsican, influenced by its Italian origins, has a unique pronunciation that can vary slightly between the written and spoken language. Indeed, if a word is written in full, the last vowel is often not pronounced and fades into the air. For example, the word "OR" will be pronounced "u". The "T" is also often pronounced as a "D" unless it is doubled. Syllables in "EN" or "EM" are usually pronounced "in" or "im."

As with all regional languages, there are nuances of dialects that are more or less pronounced depending on the region you are in, whether north or south, west or east, on the coast or inland. Corsican is no exception and can be divided into two main groups: the northern language and the southern language.

In this training, we emphasized the Corsican spoken in the north.

If you stay in southern Corsica, you will notice that "B's" are often pronounced as "V's." In the international phonetic alphabet, only four signs are used to note the peculiarities of the Corsican language: "CH", "GE", "GN" and "Y".

In sum, Corsican pronunciation is unique and reflects the influence of its Italian origins, but it is also marked by regional variations that give it an incomparable richness and diversity.