Alphabet & pronunciation

Contents

· Italian alphabet

· Stress

· Notes

Italian alphabet

The Italian alphabet has got 21 letters; the letters j, k, w, x and y only appears in foreign words

Here you are the pronunciation of each letter (or group of letters):

a is pronounced like in car, but it is not so long

b is like in English

c before e and i is pronounced like ch in church, while before a, o and u is like in cat. If it is followed by h, the whole group has the sound k: so, for example, the word chiaro (clear) is pronounced “kiaro”

d is like in English

e is one of the trickiest sounds. It can be pronounced both open and closed. The open sound (marked è) is like the French mère, the closed one (marked é) is like the French les. However, these two pronunciations are subject to regional variants: so don’t worry too much about this, and try to speak as natural as you can

f is like in English

g before e and i is pronounced like the j in jet. It sounds like in goal before a, o and u. If it is followed by the h, the whole group is pronounced like in get. Moreover, there are two other groups: gl + i, in the most of cases pronounced like the Spanish ll (there are just few words in which it is pronounced like in gloves), and gn (always pronounced like the Spanish ñ). Note that gl + a, e, o, u is always like gloves.

h it can only follow c and g, and so modifies their sound (see above). In a few words (deriving from Latin) it appears at the beginning of them, but it is not pronounced

i it is like heel, but has got a shorter duration

l like in English

m like in English

o like the e, it has got two sounds: the open one (ò) is like pot, whereas the closed one (ó) is like the French au in pause

p is like in English

q is always followed by the u plus another vowel; has the same sound of the English question

r when you pronounce it, try to keep your tongue near the teeth

s is like in English, but if it is followed by the c + e or i all the group sc is pronounced like sh in shine (but sche / schi is ske, ski)

t like in English

u always like in full

v like in English

z has got the sound ts like in Stetson

In Italian do exist double consonants, like bb or tt, for example (the groups ch and gh are doubled cch and ggh, respectively). They are all fully sounded: when you find them, try to strengthen the sound you pronounce

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Stress

In Italian, stress is used to sign the tonic syllable. The are two different graphic stresses: the grave one “ ` ”, which is put on à, è, and ò, and the acute one “ ´ “, which is put on é and ó. On the i and u can be put both of them, it is the same.

Unfortunately (for foreigners!), we write the graphic stress only if the word is accented on the last syllable (for the monosyllable words, it depends; we will see case by case), for example, libertà (freedom) is stressed on tà. So, if a word has got two syllables but no graphic accent, the stressed syllable is the first one: for example, sole (sun) is stressed on so.

You are certainly wondering now: and if a word has got more than two syllable, what shall we do? Zucchero (sugar) is stressed on zuc or che? Well, there are some rules, but they are a bit complicated, so I will give an help (see Notes below)

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Notes

When you will meet a new word, I will write some particular adds. See the examples:

· New noun: banca [banca] (la), banche [banché] = bank

article translation

pronunciation

plural

In the pronunciation I underline the stressed vowel, so you can know where the stress is. Note that the accent on e and o just indicates if the vowel has got an open or closed sound. Remember the pronunciation of c+a or o or u, c+e or i, ch, g+a, or o, or u, g+e or i , gh, gl, sce, sci.

The article indicates the definite article to use, which you can deduce the word gender from

The plural indicates the plural form

· New adjective: giusto [giustó], giusta [giusta], giusti [giusti], giuste [giusté] = fair, true

Masc.sing fem.sing masc.plur fem.plur

In order, you can find the masculine singular form, the feminine singular form, the masculine plural form, the feminine plural form.

It may happen that an adjective has got a single form for masculine and feminine. So:

interessante [intéréssanté], interessanti [intéréssanti] = interesting

singular plural

· New verb: lavorare [lavóraré] = to work

You can find the infinitive form

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Go to Lesson 1 Back to entry page

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