Lesson 1: The Italian Alphabet | How to Pronounce Italian

Lesson 1: The Italian Alphabet | How to Pronounce Italian
The Italian Alphabet | How to pronounce Italian? *

In this article you will learn the Italian alphabet and how to read the Italian alphabet. In addition, you will improve your Italian pronunciation by learning the basic rules of Italian pronunciation.

Italian Alphabet – How to Pronounce Italian Letters?

The Italian alphabet is a 21-letter alphabet consisting of 5 vowels and 16 consonants.

LetterPronunciationLetterPronunciation
aanenne
bbioo
ccippi
ddiqqu
eererre
feffesesse
ggitti
haccauu
iivvu
lellezzeta
memme

In addition to the 21 letters, 5 more letters from foreign languages are used in Italian, but these letters are not included in the Italian alphabet.

LetterPronunciation
ji lunga
kcappa
wvu dopia
xiks
yipsilon

Italian Alphabet – How to pronounce Italian Words?

Italian is a language that is read as it is written with some exceptions. These exceptions are formed according to the letters after the letters c, g, s, z, h. Words without these letters are read as they are written. Let’s take a look at the examples below.

WordPronunciationMeaning
UnoUnoOne
NumeroNumeroNumber
BravoBıravoWell done
DonnaDonnaWoman
LavorareLavorareTo work
LungoLungoLong
MadreMadreMother
TavoloTavoloTable
LetteraLetteraLetter
NomeNomeName

How To Pronounce The Letter C In The Italian Alphabet?

The letter C is pronounced in two different ways.

1 – Pronounced as K.

When the letters “a”, “o” “u” or “h” come after the letter C, the letter “C” sounds “K“.

RuleWordPronunciation Meaning
ca = kaamicaamikafriend (female)
co = koamicoamikofriend (male)
cu = kucurakuracare
ch = kchekewhat

2 – Pronounced as CH.

In cases where the letters “e” or “i” come after the letter C, the letter “C” gives the sound “CH“.

RuleWordPronunciation Meaning
ce = checentochentoone hundred (100)
ci = chicinemachinemacinema
  • cio : cho
  • cia: cha
  • ciu pronounced as chu. The letter i is not pronounced.
  • che: ke
  • chi is pronounced as ki. The letter h is not pronounced.

How To Pronounce The Letter H In The Italian Alphabet?

The letter h is not pronounced in Italian.

SentencePronunciation Meaning
Ho un libroO un libroI have a book
Hanno un gattoAnno un gattoThey have a cat
Quanto anni ha?kuanto anni a?How old is he/she?

How To Pronounce The Letter G In The Italian Alphabet?

The letter G is pronounced in two different ways.

1 – Pronounced as G as in general

In cases where the letters “e” or “i” come after the letter G, the letter “G” gives the sound “G” as in general

RuleWordPronunciation Meaning
gegelatogelatoice cream
gimagicomagikomagic

2 – Pronounced as G as in gun

In cases where the letters “a“, “o“, “u” or “h” come after the letter G, the letter “G” gives the sound “G” as in gun.

RuleWordPronunciation Meaning
gagattogattocat
gogonnagonnaskirt
guguardareguardareto look, watch
gh = gghiaccioghiaccioice
  • gio: go
  • gia: ga
  • giu pronounced as gu. The letter i is not pronounced.
  • ghe: ge
  • ghi pronounced as gi. The letter h is not pronounced.

How To Pronounce The Letter S In The Italian Alphabet?

The letter S is pronounced in two different ways.

1 – Pronounced as S.

  • If the letter S is at the beginning of the sentence followed by a vowel;
WordPronunciation Meaning
salesalesalt
settesetteseven
solesolesun
subitosubitoimmediately
  • If the consonants ”f, p, q, t” come after the letter S;
WordPronunciation Meaning
sfidasfidachallenge
spessospessooften
squalosqualoshark
starestareto stay

2 – Pronounced as Z.

If the letter S is followed by other consonants;

WordPronunciationAnlamı
slittazlittasledge
snelloznelloslim
svenirezvenireto faint
smetterezmettereto stop

If the letter S is between two vowels;

WordPronunciation Meaning
casakazahouse
usareuzareto use

How to Read the Letters SC in the Italian Alphabet

The letter group SC is pronounced in two different ways.

1 – Pronounced as SH.

In cases where the letters “e” or “i” come after the letter Sc, it gives the sound of “sh“.

2- It is pronounced as SK.

In cases where the letters “a“, “o“, “u” or “h” come after the Sc sound group, it gives the “SK” sound.

RuleWordPronunciation Meaning
sca = skascarpeskarpeshoes
sco = skoscoprireskoprireto discover
scu = skuscusaskuzaexcuse me
sch = skschienaskienaback
  • scia: şa
  • scio: şo
  • Sciu is pronounced as shu. The letter i is not pronounced.
  • sche: ske
  • Schi is pronounced as ski. The letter h is not pronounced.

How to Pronounce the Letters GN in the Italian Alphabet?

In cases where the letter “n” follows the letter “g“, the letter group “gn” is pronounced as “ny“.

WordPronunciation Meaning
gnocchinyocchipotato dumplings
insegnanteinsenyanteteacher
spegnerespenyereto put out

How to Pronounce the Letters GL in the Italian Alphabet?

In cases where the vowel ”i” is immediately followed by the letter group “gl”, the letter group “gl” is pronounced as “ly”.

WordPronunciation Meaning
glilyihim
famigliafamilyafamily
figliafilyadaughter

How To Pronounce The Letter Z In The Italian Alphabet?

The letter “Z” is pronounced as “z” if it is at the beginning of the word, and “ts” if it is in the middle of the word. The “zz” sound in the middle of the word is also pronounced as “ts” in the same way.

WordPronunciation Meaning
zioziouncle
veneziavenetsiaVenice
pizzapitsapizza

Here are the Italian pronunciation rules in general terms. It may sound difficult, but believe me, Italian is a language that is both easy and very enjoyable to pronounce. You’ll be surprised how your pronunciation improves with practice!

You can find other articles about learning Italian here.

Check here for tips and tactics on other languages!

Good luck!

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