* Italy: This is where Italian originated, and it's the most widely spoken language in the country.
* Switzerland: Italian is one of four official languages in Switzerland, alongside German, French, and Romansh. It's mainly spoken in the southern canton of Ticino.
* San Marino: This microstate, located within Italy, also uses Italian as its official language.
* Vatican City: Italian is the official language of Vatican City, the smallest country in the world.
* Slovenia: The city of Trieste, in northeastern Italy, is very close to the border with Slovenia. A significant Italian-speaking population resides in Slovenia, with many people claiming Italian as their mother tongue. While not officially recognized in Slovenia, Trieste is considered to be part of the Italian linguistic area, though its usage is limited to its bordering regions.
Additionally, Italian is spoken by sizable communities in various other countries, including:
* Argentina
* Brazil
* Canada
* France
* United States
* Australia
These communities primarily consist of immigrants or descendants of Italian immigrants.