migliorare

improve

verb mee-lyoh-RAH-reh Less Common

Origin: from Latin melior 'better'

Also means

get better

Usage Note

Migliorare works both transitively (migliorare la qualità) and intransitively (il tempo migliora, 'the weather is improving'). It is built on meglio/migliore ('better'); its opposite is peggiorare. The gli is pronounced like a soft Italian 'lly'.

Examples

"Voglio migliorare il mio italiano."

Natural Translation

I want to improve my Italian.

Literal Translation

I-want improve the my Italian.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian Prepositions: A, In, Di, Da, Su Made Simple

Cities take a, countries take in, origin is di, agents are da. Master the five Italian prepositions a, in, di, da, su and their contractions fast.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

ItalianNow

Avere Fame: Why Italians "Have" Hunger, Not "Are"

In Italian you say Ho fame (I have hunger), never sono fame. Learn the avere + noun rule for fame, freddo, paura, age, and the sono caldo trap to avoid.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Ti Amo vs Ti Voglio Bene: I Love You in Italian

Ti amo is romantic love; ti voglio bene is tender affection for family and close friends. Here's exactly who to say each phrase to in Italian.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Mi Piace vs Mi Piacciono: How to Say 'I Like'

Use mi piace for one thing and mi piacciono for many — because in Italian the thing you like is the subject. The full rule, pronouns, and past tense.

June 5, 2026 5 min read