Pronunciation

How is the vowel 'a' pronounced?

'ah', roughly as in father (casa)

How is the vowel 'e' pronounced?

'e' as in bet, or 'ay' (bene; perché)

How is the vowel 'i' pronounced?

'ee' as in see (vino)

How is the vowel 'o' pronounced?

'aw' or 'oh' (cosa; dove)

How is the vowel 'u' pronounced?

'oo' as in food (luna)

When is C hard vs. soft?

Hard 'k' by default; soft 'ch' (as in cheese) only when directly followed by e or i

How is 'ch' (before e/i) pronounced?

Hard 'k', never English 'ch' (che, chi)

How is 'sc + e/i' pronounced?

'sh' as in shoe (pesce, scimmia)

How is 'sc + a/o/u' pronounced?

'sk' as in skate (scarpa, scusa)

How is 'sch + e/i' pronounced?

Still 'sk' (scheda, schi)

How is 'sci + a/o/u' pronounced?

Usually 'sh', with no separate 'ee' (sciarpa, lascio)

When is G hard vs. soft?

Hard 'g' (as in go) by default; soft 'j' (as in jam) only when directly followed by e or i

How is 'gh' (before e/i) pronounced?

Hard 'g' as in go (spaghetti, ghiro)

How is 'gn' pronounced?

One blended sound, roughly 'ny' in canyon (bagno, signora)

How is 'gli + vowel' pronounced?

One blended sound, roughly 'lli' in million (famiglia, figlio). Some gli words are exceptions.

In 'ciao' and 'giorno', what is the 'i' doing?

Marking a soft consonant, not adding a separate vowel

What does a double consonant do?

Makes the consonant last longer without adding a syllable. ss/mm sustain; tt/pp hold the blockage longer before release.

Where does Italian stress usually fall?

On the second-to-last syllable (ge-LA-to, i-ta-LIA-no)

What does a written final accent tell you (caffè, città, perché)?

Stress falls on the final syllable

How is 'h' pronounced?

Silent (ho, hai)

How is 'r' pronounced?

A tongue-tip tap or trill (giro)

How is 's' pronounced?

's' or 'z', varies by word (sono)

How is 'z' pronounced?

'ts' or 'dz' (pizza)

Pronounce: casa

KA-za (or KA-sa). Hard c = 'k'. 'house'

Pronounce: come

KO-me. Hard c = 'k'. 'how / like'

Pronounce: cucina

ku-CHI-na. Hard cu, then soft ci. 'kitchen'

Pronounce: cena

CHE-na. Soft c = 'ch' in cheese. 'dinner'

Pronounce: cinema

CHI-ne-ma. Soft c = 'ch'. 'cinema'

Pronounce: chi

'kee'. ch = hard 'k'. 'who'

Pronounce: gatto

GAT-to. Hard g; long tt. 'cat'

Pronounce: gelato

je-LA-to. Soft g = 'j' in jam. 'ice cream'

Pronounce: giro

JI-ro. Soft g; tapped r. 'turn / tour'

Pronounce: spaghetti

spa-GET-ti. gh = hard 'g'; long tt. 'spaghetti'

Pronounce: pesce

PE-she. sc + e = 'sh'. 'fish'

Pronounce: scusa

SKU-za. sc + u = 'sk'. 'excuse me'

Pronounce: scarpa

SKAR-pa. sc + a = 'sk'; tapped r. 'shoe'

Pronounce: bagno

BA-nyo. gn = 'ny' in canyon. 'bathroom'

Pronounce: signora

si-NYO-ra. gn = 'ny'. 'madam / Mrs.'

Pronounce: famiglia

fa-MI-lya. gli = 'lli' in million. 'family'

Pronounce: figlio

FI-lyo. gli blended. 'son'

Pronounce: ciao

'chow'. ci = soft; i is not a separate vowel. 'hi / bye'

Pronounce: giorno

JOR-no. gi = soft; i is not a separate vowel. 'day'

Pronounce: vino

VEE-no. i = 'ee'. 'wine'

Pronounce: luna

LOO-na. u = 'oo'. 'moon'

Pronounce: pizza

PEET-tsa. zz = 'ts', held long. 'pizza'

Pronounce: perché

per-KE. ch = hard 'k'; accent puts stress on the last syllable. 'because / why'

Pronounce and distinguish: sete vs. sette

SE-te (thirst): brief t. SET-te (seven): longer t before release. Both have two syllables.

Pronounce: oggi

OD-ji. Double g before i = a long soft 'j'. 'toda