Italian Diction for Singers

Always pronounced as [ɑ].

A, a

E, e

Can be pronounced as [e] or [ɛ], depending on the syllable stress.

I or i

Always pronounced as [i]; could have a glide [j] or be silent.

Can be pronounced as [o] or [ɔ], depending on the syllable stress.

O, o

U, u

Always pronounced as [u]; could have a glide [w].

Stressed Syllable

A syllable in which the vowel may be determined by dictionary reference for open or close pronunciation

A syllable that dictates vowel pronunciation based on its position relative to the stressed syllable.

Unstressed Syllable

Phonetic Consonants

B, D, F, H, J, K, L, M, P, Qu, T, V.

Variable Consonants

C, G, N, R, S, Z.

A combination of two vowel sounds, where the first vowel is long.

Diphthong

Glide

A transitional sound from one vowel to another, where the second vowel is long.

The process of shortening a word, typically by removing the last syllable.

Apocopation

Single consonants

Short, quick movement of the articulators. Not explosive or spitty.

How many vowel sounds are there in Italian?

7

How many glides are there in Italian?

3

Constant vowels

A, U, IE, O

Variable vowels

O, E

Glide Vowels

U, Gli, I

C, G, and Sc create a _______ sound when next to i or e

Soft

Hard

C, G, and Sc create a _______ sound when next to u, a, o, or any consonant

nn, nt, nd, ns

[n]

nm, nb, np

[m]

nc, ng

[ŋ]

nf, nv

[ɱ]

Z is voiced when..

An S is before a voiced consonant or a single, intervolic S is voiced