Italian Diction for Singers

The letters A, I and U are constant - they ALWAY say [ɑ i u]

The letters E and O are variable - they are either open and close.


A, a	[ɑ]	ALWAYS
E, e	[e] or [ɛ]		In a stressed syllable: - Look in the dictionary to see if the vowel is open or close. In an unstressed syllable: - The vowel is close [e] if it is in the syllable before the stressed syllable. - The vowel is open [ɛ] if it is in the syllable after the stressed syllable.
I, i	[i]	ALWAYS, could a glide [j], could be silent
O, o	[o] or [ɔ]		In a stressed syllable: - Look in the dictionary to see if the vowel is open or close. In an unstressed syllable: - The vowel is close [o] if it is in the syllable before the stressed syllable. - The vowel is open [ɔ] if it is in the syllable after the stressed syllable.
U, u	[u]	ALWAYS, could a glide [w]

Phonetic (constant) consonants:

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

Variable consonants:

C, G, N, R, S, Z

Consonant combinations:

CH, GH, GLI, GN, NG, SC,

Single consonants:

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

An apocopation- occurs when a word is shorted. Usually this occurs by the last syllable being removed.

Diphthong- first vowels is long

Glide- second vowel is long

-are (first conjugation)

-ére (second conjugation)

-ire (third conjugation)

5 Vowels

A, E, I, O, U