The consonants not listed below (b, f, m, n, v) are pronounced as in English. The approximate English equivalents are as follows:
c before a, o, and u is like the English k.
Italian English
casa house
fico fig
con with
Colesseo Colosseum
capo head
Cupido Cupid
cane dog
camera camera
caffè coffee
culla cradle
c before e or i is like the English sound ch in chest.
Italian English
cena supper
voce voice
cibo food
concerto concert
aceto vinegar
cinema cinema
cipolla onion
facile easy
ch (found only before e or i) is like the English k.
Italian English
che that
chimica chemistry
perché because
fichi figs
chilo kilo
chi who
chiuso closed
anche also
d is somewhat more explosive than in English, with the tongue near the tip of the upper teeth but with no aspiration.
Italian English
di of
data date
dove where
due two
denaro money
dodici twelve
donna woman
lunedì Monday
moda fashion
undici eleven
g before a, o, and u is as in the English word go.
Italian English
gala gala
albergo hotel
gondola gondola
gamba leg
gusto taste
fungo mushroom
gonna skirt
gomma eraser
lungo long
guanti gloves
guidare to drive
lingua tongue
g before e or i is like the g in gem.
Italian English
gelato ice cream
angelo angel
pagina page
gente people
gesso chalk
gentile kind
gita outing
gennaio January
gh (found only before e or i) is like the g in go.
Italian English
ghetto ghetto
funghe escapes
laghi lakes
maghi magicians
gli is approximately like ll in million.
Italian English
egli he
meglio better
figli sons
famiglia family
mogli wives
aglio garlic
fogli sheets (of paper)
bottiglia bottle
gn is approximately like ny in canyon.
Italian English
signora lady
lavagna blackboard
signore gentleman
bagno bath
signorina young lady
sogno dream
lasagne lasagna
spugna sponge
h is silent.
Italian English
ho I have
hotel hotel
ha has
ahi! ouch!
hanno they have
l is as in English, but sharper and more forward in the mouth.
Italian English
olio oil
lingua language
sale salt
lungo long
melone melon
luna moon
scuola school
light light
p is as in English, but without the aspiration that sometimes accompanies this sound in English.
Italian English
pane bread
patata potato
pepe pepper
papà dad
popone melon
ponte bridge
pipa pipe
punto period
pasto meal
pronuncia pronunciation
Alpi Alps
psicologo psychologist
qu is always pronounced like the English qu in quest.
Italian English
questo this
quinto fifth
quale which
quarto fourth
quanto how much
quantità quantity
quadro picture
qualità quality
r is different from the English r; it is pronounced with one flip of the tongue against the gums of the upper teeth. This is the trilled r.
Italian English
ora now
tenore tenor
albergo hotel
baritono baritone
arte art
orologio watch
porta door
sardina sardine
s is sometimes like the English s in house.
Italian English
soggiorno living room
testa head
stanza room
festa party; holiday
posta mail
stufato stew
pasta pasta; dough; pastry
pista track
s is sometimes (but always before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, and v) like the English s in rose.
Italian English
rosa rose
tesoro treasure
frase phrase
svelto quick
sbaglio mistake
esercizio exercise
musica music
sgridare to scold
susina plum
sbadato careless
sc before a, o, or u is like sk in ask.
Italian English
ascoltare to listen
scuola school
pesca peach
tasca pocket
toscano Tuscan
scaloppine cutlets
scarpa shoe
scultura sculpture
disco disk; record
scopo purpose
sc before e or i is like the English sound sh in fish.
Italian English
finisce finishes
sci ski
pesce fish
conoscere to know
scena scene
scendere to descend
uscita exit
uscio door
sch occurs only before e or i, and is pronounced like the English sk.
Italian English
pesche peaches
tasche pockets
dischi disks; records
scheletro skeleton
fiaschi flasks
lische fishbones
t is approximately the same as in English, but no escaping of breath accompanies it in Italian.
Italian English
contento glad
carta paper
arte art
matita pencil
turista tourist
antipasto appetizer
telefono telephone
testa head
z is sometimes voiceless, like ts is bets.
Italian English
pizza pizza
negozio store
marzo March
Venezia Venice
grazie thank you
dizionario dictionary
z is sometimes voiced, like ds in beds.
Italian English
zero zero
zebra zebra
pranzo lunch
zelo zeal
romanzo novel
zanzara mosquito
Note:
When ci, gi, and sci are followed by a, o, or u, unless the accent falls on the i, the i is not pronounced. The letter i merely indicates that c, g, and sc are pronounced, respectively, like the English ch, g (as in gem), and sh.
Italian English
arancia orange
giornale newspaper
ciliegia cherry
ciao so long
salsiccia sausage
camicia shirt
lasciare to leave
scienza science
c before a, o, and u is like the English k.
Italian English
casa house
fico fig
con with
Colesseo Colosseum
capo head
Cupido Cupid
cane dog
camera camera
caffè coffee
culla cradle
c before e or i is like the English sound ch in chest.
Italian English
cena supper
voce voice
cibo food
concerto concert
aceto vinegar
cinema cinema
cipolla onion
facile easy
ch (found only before e or i) is like the English k.
Italian English
che that
chimica chemistry
perché because
fichi figs
chilo kilo
chi who
chiuso closed
anche also
d is somewhat more explosive than in English, with the tongue near the tip of the upper teeth but with no aspiration.
Italian English
di of
data date
dove where
due two
denaro money
dodici twelve
donna woman
lunedì Monday
moda fashion
undici eleven
g before a, o, and u is as in the English word go.
Italian English
gala gala
albergo hotel
gondola gondola
gamba leg
gusto taste
fungo mushroom
gonna skirt
gomma eraser
lungo long
guanti gloves
guidare to drive
lingua tongue
g before e or i is like the g in gem.
Italian English
gelato ice cream
angelo angel
pagina page
gente people
gesso chalk
gentile kind
gita outing
gennaio January
gh (found only before e or i) is like the g in go.
Italian English
ghetto ghetto
funghe escapes
laghi lakes
maghi magicians
gli is approximately like ll in million.
Italian English
egli he
meglio better
figli sons
famiglia family
mogli wives
aglio garlic
fogli sheets (of paper)
bottiglia bottle
gn is approximately like ny in canyon.
Italian English
signora lady
lavagna blackboard
signore gentleman
bagno bath
signorina young lady
sogno dream
lasagne lasagna
spugna sponge
h is silent.
Italian English
ho I have
hotel hotel
ha has
ahi! ouch!
hanno they have
l is as in English, but sharper and more forward in the mouth.
Italian English
olio oil
lingua language
sale salt
lungo long
melone melon
luna moon
scuola school
light light
p is as in English, but without the aspiration that sometimes accompanies this sound in English.
Italian English
pane bread
patata potato
pepe pepper
papà dad
popone melon
ponte bridge
pipa pipe
punto period
pasto meal
pronuncia pronunciation
Alpi Alps
psicologo psychologist
qu is always pronounced like the English qu in quest.
Italian English
questo this
quinto fifth
quale which
quarto fourth
quanto how much
quantità quantity
quadro picture
qualità quality
r is different from the English r; it is pronounced with one flip of the tongue against the gums of the upper teeth. This is the trilled r.
Italian English
ora now
tenore tenor
albergo hotel
baritono baritone
arte art
orologio watch
porta door
sardina sardine
s is sometimes like the English s in house.
Italian English
soggiorno living room
testa head
stanza room
festa party; holiday
posta mail
stufato stew
pasta pasta; dough; pastry
pista track
s is sometimes (but always before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, and v) like the English s in rose.
Italian English
rosa rose
tesoro treasure
frase phrase
svelto quick
sbaglio mistake
esercizio exercise
musica music
sgridare to scold
susina plum
sbadato careless
sc before a, o, or u is like sk in ask.
Italian English
ascoltare to listen
scuola school
pesca peach
tasca pocket
toscano Tuscan
scaloppine cutlets
scarpa shoe
scultura sculpture
disco disk; record
scopo purpose
sc before e or i is like the English sound sh in fish.
Italian English
finisce finishes
sci ski
pesce fish
conoscere to know
scena scene
scendere to descend
uscita exit
uscio door
sch occurs only before e or i, and is pronounced like the English sk.
Italian English
pesche peaches
tasche pockets
dischi disks; records
scheletro skeleton
fiaschi flasks
lische fishbones
t is approximately the same as in English, but no escaping of breath accompanies it in Italian.
Italian English
contento glad
carta paper
arte art
matita pencil
turista tourist
antipasto appetizer
telefono telephone
testa head
z is sometimes voiceless, like ts is bets.
Italian English
pizza pizza
negozio store
marzo March
Venezia Venice
grazie thank you
dizionario dictionary
z is sometimes voiced, like ds in beds.
Italian English
zero zero
zebra zebra
pranzo lunch
zelo zeal
romanzo novel
zanzara mosquito
Note:
When ci, gi, and sci are followed by a, o, or u, unless the accent falls on the i, the i is not pronounced. The letter i merely indicates that c, g, and sc are pronounced, respectively, like the English ch, g (as in gem), and sh.
Italian English
arancia orange
giornale newspaper
ciliegia cherry
ciao so long
salsiccia sausage
camicia shirt
lasciare to leave
scienza science