Grammar Reference(pronunciation2)
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- Words: 499
- Pages: 4
THE ITALIAN ALPHABET Letter Name IPA Approximate Sound a
a
Like a in English "father"
b
bi
Like b in English "boat"
c
ci
When followed by e or i, like ch in English "cherry" When followed by a, o, u, or consonant, like c in English "cook"
d
di
Like d in English "dance"
e
e
One like a in English "make", shown by é, One like a in English "met"
f
effe
Like f in English "fool"
g
gi
When followed by e or i, like g in English "general" When followed by a, o, u, or consonant, like g in English "go"
h
acca
Always silent
i
i
Like i in English "machine"
l
elle
Like l in English "lamb"
m
emme
Like m in English "money"
n
enne
Like n in English "net"
o
o
One like o in English "note", shown by ó One like ou in English "ought"
p
pi
Like p in English "pot"
q
cu
Always followed by u and sounds like qu in English "quart"
r
erre
Like r in English "rubber" with a slight trill
s
esse
Like s in English "see" Like z in English "zero"
t
ti
Like t in English "table"
u
u
Like u in English "rule" When followed by consonant, like w in English "was"
v
vu
Like v in English "vain"
z
zeta
Like ts in English "nuts" Like dz in English "adze"
OTHER LETTERS Letter Name
Examples
j
i lunga
jazz, jingo
x
ics
xenofobo, xilofono
k
cappa
kiosco, kodak
y
ipsilon
yacht, yoghurt
w
doppia vu water-polo, whiskey
VOWEL COMBINATIONS Vowel IPA Pronunciation ai
ai in English "aisle"
au
ou in English "out"
ei
ay-ee
eu
ay-oo
ia
ya in English "yard"
ie
ye in English "yes"
io
yo in English "yoke"
iu
you
oi
oy in English "boy"
ua
wa
ue
way
ui
oo-ee
uo
oo-oh
CONSONANTS h
is never pronounced ll
mm
nn
rr
ss
When two consonants occur in the middle of a word, they are both pronounced. Notice the difference between: caro = dear
casa = house pala = shovel
carro = truck
cassa = case
palla = ball
SPECIAL ITALIAN SOUNDS Italian
Example
English
cci cce
cacciatore
ch
chair
ch before e or i
chitarra
k
key
gh before e or i
ghirlanda
gli
egli, paglia
gn
segno, Spagna
sc before e or i
g lli
Example
gate million
ni, ny
scendere, sciroppo
sc before a, o or u sculoa, scarpa
sh sk
onion, canyon shoe sky
STRESS 1. Words of two syllables are generally stressed on the first syllable, unless the other one bears an accent mark: lapis = pencil
città = city
penna = pen
virtù = virtue
meta = goal
metaà = half
2. Words of more than two syllables are generally stressed on the syllable before the last, or on the syllable before that:
ancòra = more
àncora = anchor
dolòre = grief
amòre = love
scàtola = box
automòbile = car
a
Like a in English "father"
b
bi
Like b in English "boat"
c
ci
When followed by e or i, like ch in English "cherry" When followed by a, o, u, or consonant, like c in English "cook"
d
di
Like d in English "dance"
e
e
One like a in English "make", shown by é, One like a in English "met"
f
effe
Like f in English "fool"
g
gi
When followed by e or i, like g in English "general" When followed by a, o, u, or consonant, like g in English "go"
h
acca
Always silent
i
i
Like i in English "machine"
l
elle
Like l in English "lamb"
m
emme
Like m in English "money"
n
enne
Like n in English "net"
o
o
One like o in English "note", shown by ó One like ou in English "ought"
p
pi
Like p in English "pot"
q
cu
Always followed by u and sounds like qu in English "quart"
r
erre
Like r in English "rubber" with a slight trill
s
esse
Like s in English "see" Like z in English "zero"
t
ti
Like t in English "table"
u
u
Like u in English "rule" When followed by consonant, like w in English "was"
v
vu
Like v in English "vain"
z
zeta
Like ts in English "nuts" Like dz in English "adze"
OTHER LETTERS Letter Name
Examples
j
i lunga
jazz, jingo
x
ics
xenofobo, xilofono
k
cappa
kiosco, kodak
y
ipsilon
yacht, yoghurt
w
doppia vu water-polo, whiskey
VOWEL COMBINATIONS Vowel IPA Pronunciation ai
ai in English "aisle"
au
ou in English "out"
ei
ay-ee
eu
ay-oo
ia
ya in English "yard"
ie
ye in English "yes"
io
yo in English "yoke"
iu
you
oi
oy in English "boy"
ua
wa
ue
way
ui
oo-ee
uo
oo-oh
CONSONANTS h
is never pronounced ll
mm
nn
rr
ss
When two consonants occur in the middle of a word, they are both pronounced. Notice the difference between: caro = dear
casa = house pala = shovel
carro = truck
cassa = case
palla = ball
SPECIAL ITALIAN SOUNDS Italian
Example
English
cci cce
cacciatore
ch
chair
ch before e or i
chitarra
k
key
gh before e or i
ghirlanda
gli
egli, paglia
gn
segno, Spagna
sc before e or i
g lli
Example
gate million
ni, ny
scendere, sciroppo
sc before a, o or u sculoa, scarpa
sh sk
onion, canyon shoe sky
STRESS 1. Words of two syllables are generally stressed on the first syllable, unless the other one bears an accent mark: lapis = pencil
città = city
penna = pen
virtù = virtue
meta = goal
metaà = half
2. Words of more than two syllables are generally stressed on the syllable before the last, or on the syllable before that:
ancòra = more
àncora = anchor
dolòre = grief
amòre = love
scàtola = box
automòbile = car
