Language is constantly changing, and many words used in old records could have a different meaning from the common meaning used today; therefore, dictionaries from earlier years or centuries are an excellent resource for researchers. Below is a list of common words that are found in Italian records to help understand them.

It is important to remember that while there is a standard dialect that is used throughout Italy since its official adoption in 1925, which is called Italiano standard or Italiano normativo based on the Tuscun Dialect, there are many other distinct dialects that have their own grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. For this reason, it is advised to identify the region of investigation and to find a dictionary for that specific region, as it will be more accurate.