Italian Typing Test Online
Test your WPM speed in Italian. Master typing accented vowels (à, è, é, ì, ò, ù) and punctuation accurately.
Test Your Speed in Other Languages
Preparing for a bilingual job interview or government exam? Certify your typing WPM and accuracy in specific languages with our dedicated text banks.
Why Take an Italian Typing Test?
Italian is a beautifully phonetic language, but typing it efficiently requires mastering several orthographic nuances that do not exist in an English typing test. If you are applying for a bilingual translation, transcription, or customer support role, employers will evaluate your Italian typing speed to ensure you can rapidly input accented vowels (à, è, é, ì, ò, ù) and correctly format punctuation without halting your workflow.
The Infamous Missing Key: How to Type the Capital È
One of the most notoriously discussed flaws of the standard physical Italian Windows keyboard layout is the complete absence of a dedicated key for uppercase accented letters. Because "È" (meaning "is" - third person singular of 'essere') often starts a sentence, this is a major pain point. Most native speakers type E' (an E followed by an apostrophe) as an acceptable workaround. However, for professional data entry, you should use the Alt code: Alt + 0200.
How to Type Italian Characters on a US Keyboard
If you are living outside of Italy, you likely use a standard QWERTY (US) keyboard. You do not need to buy a new keyboard to achieve a high WPM. Simply enable the US-International keyboard layout in your Windows or Mac settings. This turns specific punctuation keys into "dead keys".
| Italian Accent | Usage Example | US-International Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Grave Accent (à, è, ì, ò, ù) | città, caffè, così, però, più | Press ` (backtick/tilde key) then the vowel |
| Acute Accent (é) | perché, affinché | Press ' (apostrophe) then e |
| Capital È | È vero. | Press ` then Shift + E |
Check Your Hardware Stability
Because typing in Italian constantly forces your fingers to utilize modifier keys for accents and frequent apostrophes (e.g., l'amico, un'altra), your keyboard must have excellent switch responsiveness. If you notice double spaces or missed accents, run a diagnostic using our Hardware Keyboard Test to ensure your device isn't suffering from switch chattering before your official assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a good WPM for an Italian typing test?
For bilingual jobs, an Italian typing speed of 40 to 50 WPM is considered standard. Due to the frequent use of accented vowels and apostrophes, it is normal for your Italian WPM to be slightly lower than your English WPM.
How do you type the capital È on an Italian keyboard?
The standard Italian keyboard layout lacks a dedicated key for the uppercase È. Most people type E' (E followed by an apostrophe) as a workaround. For proper formatting, use the Alt code: hold Alt and type 0200 on the numeric keypad.
How to type Italian accents (à, è, ì, ò, ù) on a US keyboard?
Switch your OS layout to US-International. To type a grave accent (like à), press the backtick/tilde key (`/~) followed by the vowel. To type an acute accent (like é), press the apostrophe key (') followed by the vowel.
Is the Italian keyboard layout QWERTY or QWERTZ?
The modern Italian keyboard uses a standard QWERTY layout, similar to the US keyboard. However, older Italian typewriters and early computers used a QZERTY layout, which is now obsolete.
Why is the letter ç on the Italian keyboard?
The cedilla (ç) is not traditionally used in the Italian language. Its inclusion on the standard Italian layout is a historical carryover from early typewriters that copied French keyboard designs.