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Learn Italian sounds – the alphabet

Last Modified: August 31, 2015

Italian is one of the most musical languages in the world. But what are exactly the sounds of this language?

Let’s summarize the main ones in the tables below:

 

ALPHABETEXAMPLESPHONETIC TRANSCRIPTIONSIMILAR SOUNDS IN ENGLISH
AAnimale (animal) [ani’male]Cup
BBagaglio (luggage) [ba’gaʎo]Bike
C [1]Cane (dog)[‘kane]Cold
DDomenica (Sunday)[do’menika]Darling
EEstintore (fire-extinguisher)[estin’tore]Elephant
FFolata (gust)[fo’lata]Flower
G [2]Gatto (general)[‘gat:o]Game
H [3]Hotel (hotel)[o’tɛl]///
IInsieme (together)[in’sjɛme]Instructions
LLadro (thief)[‘ladro]Long
MMalattia (illness)[mala’t:ia]Mountains
NNegozio (shop)[ne’gɔtsjo]Nation
OOssa (bones)[‘ɔs:a]Octagon
PPollo (chicken)[‘pol:o]Problem
QQuadro (painting)[‘kwadro]Quotient
RReparto (department)[re’parto]Rest
SSoluzione (solution)[sɔlu’tsjone]Summer
TTovagliolo (napkin)[tova’ʎɔlo]Tree
UUniversità (university)[universi’ta]Book
VVicinanza (closeness)[vitʃi’nanʦa]Violet
ZZona (area)[‘ʣona]///

 

OTHER SOUNDS

EXAMPLESPHONETIC TRANSCRIPTIONSIMILAR SOUNDS IN ENGLISH
Cwhen followed by e or iCena (dinner)[‘tʃena]Chain
Gwhen followed by e or iGita (trip)[‘dʒita]Jam
GLwhen followed by iGli (the)[‘fiʎ] /// 
GLIwhen followed by a, e, o or uMoglie (wife)[‘moʎe]
GNSogno (dream)[‘soɲo]///
SCwhen followed by e or iScena (scene)[‘ʃɛna] Shoe
SCIwhen followed by a, o or uProsciutto (ham)[pro’ʃut:o]

 

[1] When it is followed by H, the sound is the same;

[2] When it is followed by H, the sound is the same;

[3] Letter H in Italian is always silent;

 

EXERCISE

One of the best ways to learn and improve Italian is practising. So, now that you’ve learnt the main Italian sounds, try to read the following words:

Fiore – Bagno – Merenda – Sedia – Zeta – Tavolo – Gente – Antico – Viola – Figlio – Giardino – Questo – Lasagne – Cimitero – Sciarpa – Pesce – Uscita.

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Category: Learn ItalianTag: Italian alphabet, Italian language, Italian sounds, learn Italian, the alphabet

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Peter Rey

    December 18, 2014 at 6:27 pm

    I find it quite difficult to pronounce vowels like a native… they’re so open and clear. For me it all seems like opera singing! =)

    Reply
    • ITT

      December 18, 2014 at 6:29 pm

      Hi Peter, it’s normal. It takes some time but with some practice you’ll see you’ll manage to get that sounds right. Just dont give up! 🙂

      Reply

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