Lezione 1A: Pronuncia e ortografia -- the Italian alphabet

a

a, esempio (example): abilità

b

bi, esempio: banana

c

ci, esempio: città

d

di, esempio: delizioso

e

e, elegante

f

effe, famoso

g

gi, generoso

h

acca, hai (the h is silent)

i

i, idea

l

elle, lungo

m

emme, mamma

n

enne, natura

o

o, opera

p

pi, pizza

q

cu, quattro

r

erre, radio

s

esse, speciale

t

ti, terribile

u

u, università

v

vu, video

z

zeta, zoo

which letters are used primarily in foreign terms (not in the Italian language)?

j (l junga), k (cappa), w (doppia vu), x (lcs), and y (ipsilon)

What is the significance of the double consonant?

It distinguishes between two similarly spelled words.

How should you say a double consonant out loud?

Emphasize and hold it for an extra beat.

What should you do when spelling double consonants aloud?

Say due (two) or doppia (double)