How to Pronounce Italian Words

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Words from the Italian language have a vast usage in musical terminology among all nations. Learning their pronounciation is a help to be able to remember them.



Steps

Introduction

  1. Learn pronounciation of Italian divides in
    • Pronounciations come after the word inside /.../; please come to them after finishing this "How to."
    • vowels (vocale /vo-ka-le/),
    • consonants (consonante /kon-so-nan-te/),
    • double (doppio /dop-pjo/) consonants,
    • silent (muto /mu-to/).
  2. Note diphthongs (dittongo /dit-tɔn-go/). Some vowels come as diphthong similar to American pronunciation of letter 'a' in "hand," contrasted with British (diphthongs are also called as double vowels).
  3. Note also that in Italian all vowels are pronounced. For example,
    • 'e' in English word "mate" is not pronounced, but it is a hint to contrast it with mat. In English this hint already was in the form of a diphthong, "mayt" which still exists in "Cockney" British accent.
    • The same 'e' in Italian "pane" (bread /pa-ne/) keeps 'a' without hint and is pronounced independently: 'a' like 'a' in English "car" and 'e' sounds like 'a' in English "pay".
  4. Notice that all the Italian words end to a, e, i, and o.
    • Few words end to u.
    • Few words end to a consonant.
    • In Italian words there is no j, k, w, x, y.
      • These letters might be used to express pronounciation of words in international phonetics symbols. Do not confuse them with Italian alphabets.

Vowels

  1. Learn Italian vowels as,
    • a : ä as a in English car. Simply is shown as a.
    • e, open e (always stressed) : ĕ as e in English pet. Simply is shown as ε (epsilon). When you get to it you are going down.
    • e, closed e : ā as a in English pay. Simply is shown as e. When you get to it you are going up.
    • o, open o (always stressed) : ŏ as o in English pot. Simply is shown as ɔ (a flipped c).
    • o, closed o : ō as o in English bored. Simply is shown as o.
    • i: ē as ee in English see. Simply is shown as i.
    • i (i unstressed and is in one of the combinations "ia, ie, io, iu") : j as y in English yes. Simply is shown as j.
    • u : ōō as oo in English noon. Simply is shown as u.
    • u (u unstressed and is in one of the combinations "ua, ue, ui, uo") : w as w in British sandwich or Greenwich. Simply is shown as w.

Consonants

  1. Learn Italian consonants can be grouped based on the difficulty of their learning.
  2. First group of consonants are, b, d, f, m, p, qu, t, v.
    • b : b as b in English bob.
    • d : d sounds as d in English door.
    • f : f sounds as f in English foot.
    • m : m sounds as m in English moor.
    • p : p sounds as p in English poor.
      • Italian 'p' is not as exploding as Englsh 'p'. It is rather near 'b'.
    • qu : kw sounds as qu in English quick.
    • t : t sounds as t in English tent.
    • v : v sounds as v in English very.
  3. Second group is r, and l.
    • r : r sounds as r in English rude. Pronounce it as rrrude.
    • l : appears in two ways in italian.
      • As ordinary l : l sounds as l in English loot.
      • As longer l (only in combination gli) : ʎ sounds as lli in English bullion.
        • See also combination gli in letter g.
  4. Third group is c, g, n, s, z. These consonants are the most important
    • c : have several places in a word,
      • c + another consonant : k, c sounds as k in English kit (also known as "hard" c is shown simply by k).
      • c + a, o, u : k, c sounds as k in English kit (also known as "hard" c is shown simply by k).
      • c + he : k, c sounds as k in English kit (also known as "hard" c is shown simply by k).
      • c + hi : k, c sounds as k in English kit (also known as "hard" c is shown simply by k).
      • c + e : ç, c sounds as ch in English child. Symbol t∫ also is used. cce is shown by tt∫ (see also double consonants).
        • if after c + e a consonant appears, then e keeps its sound.
        • if after c + e a vowel appears, then e fuses into that vowel as a diphthong.
      • c + i : ç, c sounds as ch in English child. Symbol t∫ also is used. cci is shown by tt∫ (see also double consonants).
        • if after c + i a consonant appears, then i keeps its sound.
        • if after c + i a vowel appears, then i fuses into that vowel as a diphthong.
      • s + c + e : š, sc sounds as sh in English sheep. Symbol ∫∫ also is used.
        • if after sc + e a consonant appears, then e keeps its sound.
        • if after sc + e a vowel appears, then e fuses into that vowel as a diphthong.
      • s + c + i : š, sc sounds as sh in English sheep. Symbol ∫∫ also is used.
        • if after sc + i a consonant appears, then i keeps its sound.
        • if after sc + i a vowel appears, then i fuses into that vowel as a diphthong.
    • g : also have different roles,
      • g + another cosonant : g, g sounds as g in English group (also known as "hard" g is shown simply by g).
      • g + l : g, g sounds as gl in English glory (also known as "hard" g is shown simply by g).
      • g + a, o, u : g, g sounds as g in English group (also known as "hard" g is shown simply by g).
      • g + he : g, g sounds as g in English group (also known as "hard" g is shown simply by g).
      • g + hi : g, g sounds as g in English group (also known as "hard" g is shown simply by g).
      • g + e : ʝ sounds as dg in English bridge. Symbol dʒ also is used. gge is shown by ddʒ (see also double consonants).
      • g + i : ʝ sounds as dg in English bridge. Symbol dʒ also is used. ggi is shown by ddʒ (see also double consonants).
      • g + li : ʎ, please refer to l; g is only a hint.
      • g + n : ñ, please refer to n; g is only a hint.
    • Consonant n has different roles as,
      • n : n sounds as n, say, in English now.
      • n + k-sounds : ŋ sounds as softly terminating ng in, say, playing.
      • n + g-sounds: ŋ sounds as softly terminating ng in, say, playing.
      • g + n : ñ sounds like ni in English onion.
    • We learn sounds of s as,
      • s (at the beginning) + vowel : (pronounciation symbol s ), like s in English sofa (also called unvoiced s ).
      • s (at any place) + s : (pronounciation symbol s), like s in English sofa (also called unvoiced s ).
      • s (at any place) + c, f, p, q, t : (pronounciation symbol s), like s in English sofa.(also called unvoiced s ).
        • s (at any place) + c + e : (pronounciation symbol ∫∫ ), this exception already was discussed in study of letter 'c'
        • s (at any place) + c + i : (pronounciation symbol ∫∫ ), this exception already was discussed in study of letter 'c'
      • s (at the beginning) + any other consonant : (pronounciation symbol z), sounds like z in English word ztand. Try to pronounce stand in English but substitute s voice by a z voice (also called voiced s ).
      • s (not at the beginning) + Vowel  : (pronounciation symbol z), sounds like s in English word release (also called voiced s ).
      • s (at any place) + any other consonant (with the exception of c, f, p, q, t) : (pronounciation symbol z), sounds like s in English word release (also called voiced s ).
    • s (at the beginning) + any other consonants whether voiced or unvoiced is called s-impura in Italian.
    • Letter z has two phonetic roles. They depend where the native comes from. One learn them also based on the place that he lives in Italy, or in Switzerland.
      • z : (pronounciation symbol ts) sounds as ts in English bits (also called unvoiced z ).
      • z : (pronounciation symbol dz) sounds as ds in English reads (also called voiced z ).

Double Consonants and Silent Consonant

  1. Double consonants are actually pronounced twice in Italian. For example,
    • capello (using what we learned /ka-pel-lo/) means hair.
    • cappello (using what we learned /kap-pεl-lo/) means hat.
  2. Silent Consonant is the letter 'h' which has no role in pronunciation, but as a hint. For example,
    • h comes between c and e as che to keep it a hard c. Otherwise c would be pronounced as t∫.
    • h also shows history of a word as a help to the speakers of the language. For example, ho (I have) pronounced as o is from the root avere (to have) pronounced as a-ve-re. Think of it that it actually has been (h)avere very near to English "have."

What Is an Impure Letter?

  1. Impure means that the letter's sound is mixed with another sound without presence of that other. It happens frequently at the beginning of a word. Such is when "s" followed by a consonant, the "s" could sound tz, dz or es, or even se to the listener.
  2. Note that for instance, in English student, letter s is impure but s in aspect is not impure. In Italian, s in both studente and asfalto is s-impura, and begins the syllable (/a-sfal-to/) as if it is a sfalto.

Accent

  1. In most Italian words the stress is on the syllable before the last syllable (called penultimate syllable). This is called accented syllable.
  2. It is a rule that the accented syllable pronunciation to be shown by boldface fonts.
  3. One of the most difficult part of learning a foreign language is dividing its words into the syllables. Usually your hunch is different from a ten-year-old native of that language.
  4. In Italian if the last syllable ends to a vowel and stress by any exception goes on that you have to put a small accent sign on that vowel. For example, dignità (dignity) or perchè (why), sì (yes), perciò (therefore), or più (a bit more)
  5. Accent sign is also used to show difference of meaning for similarly written words. For example, e (and) contrasted with è (is).

Elision

  1. Learn Elision : Italian elisione (e-li-zio-ne) means deleting part of a word for the ease of pronounciation. Could be with
    • Contraction. For example, la + Inglese becomes l'Inglese.
    • Fusion. For example, da + il becomes dal, vedere + la becomes vederla.
    • Truncation. Is possible before a consonant or a vowel. For example, quale + buon vento becomes qual buon vento.

Euophonics, Hard "c" and Hard "g"

  1. Learn euphonics. In contrast to elisione in certain places Italians add a letter 'd' to make music of the speech easier. They are also used in writing.
  2. Use letter "d." for euophony. This, normally, is used when the beginning letter of the next word is a similar vowel or when it is more convenient keeping the flow of speech. They are used in these places
    • Italian "e" meaning "and" becomes "ed"
    • Italian "o" meaning "or" becomes "od"
    • Italian "a" meaning "at, to" becomes "ad"
  3. Learn insertion of "h."
    • When ending of a word includes a hard "c" (sounds k) and grammar changes them to "ce" (sounds t∫e) or "ci" (sounds t∫i) an "h" will be inserted after "c" and change it to "che" or "chi" to keep "c" hard as before.
      • Example; l'amica (friend) in plural becomes le amice. "h" will be inserted to make it le amiche.
      • Example; bianco (white) in plural becomes bianci. "h" will be inserted to make it bianchi.
    • When ending of a word includes a hard "g" (sounds g) and grammar changes them to "ge" (sounds dʒe) or "gi" (sounds dʒi) an "h" will be inserted after "g" and change it to "ghe" or "ghi" to keep "g" hard as before.
      • Example; la bottega (shop) in plural becomes le bottegi. "h" will be inserted to make it botteghi.
      • Example; largo (wide) in plural becomes largi. "h" will be inserted to make it larghi.

Exceptions

  1. Know that a language is not created in a convention in a closed room at a certain time by a limited number of people. It has been evolved among people living near and far from each other as an unwritten exchange of vocal symbols. The prodigy of human mind is that it follows such a set of discoverable rules on a consensus and similarity among such a vast population talking that language. With all elegance, these rules frequently are breached by exceptions that by vehement learning of a language and curiosity should be learned and memorised.

Examples

  1. Learn Italian word, esempio (example, /e-zεm-pjo/).

Vowels

  1. Use the before mentioned knowledge to pronounce examples of this section. All examples come in the same order as the related alphabets.
    • It is assumed that you refer to all the list for the pronounciations.
  2. a : pane (bread, /pa-ne/)
  3. open e (ε) : studente (student, /stu-dεn-te/)
    • Please note that it is stressed, as said.
  4. closed e : fede (faith, fe-de).
    • Please note that one of them is stressed the other not.
  5. open o (ɔ) : posta (mail, /pɔ-sta/).
    • Please note that it is stressed, as said.
  6. closed o : pronto (prompt, /pron-to/).
    • Please note that one of them is stressed the other not.
  7. i : vino (wine, /vi-no/).
    • Please compare Italian i in vino with English i in wine and pine to understand how much they are different when you are speaking Italian.
  8. i + another vowel : chiesa (church, /kjε-za/).
    • Please note that in such usage i never becomes stressed but the next vowel tolerates stress if they appear in a stressed syllable.
  9. u : fortuna (fortune, /for-tu-na/).
    • Please compare Italian u in fortuna with English u in tune and cure to understand how much they are different when you are speaking Italian.
  10. u + another vowel : guida (guide, /gwi-da/).
    • Please note that in such usage u never becomes stressed but the next vowel tolerates stress if they appear in a stressed syllable.

Consonants

  1. First group of consonants have no problem for people familiar with English language (assumed audience of this wikiHow).
  2. Learn long l in the second group.
    • g + l + i :
      • gli alone or at the beginning : is a long l,
        • gli (to him, /ʎi/). Note i exists.
        • glielo (an Italian pronoun, /ʎe-lo/). Note i is silent.
      • gli inside a word : is even a longer l
        • figlio (boy, /fiʎ-ʎo/)
    • In any case either i comes as part of the ʎ or as an external voice.
  3. Work more on the third group.Here you'll have examples for the third group.
    • c : have several places in a word,
      • c + another consonant : cravatta (tie, /kra-vat-ta/), descrivere (to describe, /de-skri-ve-re/).
      • c + a, o, u :
        • c + a : camera (room, /ka-me-ra/).
        • c + o : fresco (cool, /fre-sko/).
        • c + u : accumulare, (to pile up, /ak-ku-mu-la-re/).
        • c + he : anche (also, /an-ke/).
        • c + hi : occhio (eye, /ɔk-kjo/).
        • c + e :
          • ce + consonant : cena (dinner, /t∫e-na/), accento (accent, at-t∫en-to). Note, e exists.
          • ce + vowel : Non-existent; already has been deformed.
        • c + i :
          • ci + consonant : citadino (urban, /t∫i-ta-di-no/), accidente (accident, /at-t∫i-den-te/). Note, i exists.
          • ci + vowel : bacio (kiss, ba-t∫o), nocciola (hazelnut, /not-t∫ɔ-la/). Note, i disappears.
        • s + c + e :
          • sce + consonant : ascensore (lift, /a-∫∫en-so-re/). Note, e exists.
          • sce + vowel : Non-existent; already has been deformed.
        • s + c + i :
          • sci + consonant : uscita (exit, /u-∫∫i-ta/). Note, i exists.
          • sci + vowel : scienza (science, /∫∫εn-tsa/). Note, i disappears.
    • g : also have different roles,
      • g + another cosonant : grande (large, /gran-de/).
      • g + l : glassa (icing, glas-sa).
      • g + a, o, u :
        • g + a : gala (glorious, /ga-la/).
        • g + o : gomma (tyre. /gom-ma/).
        • g + u : guanto (glove, /gwan-to/).
      • g + he : spaghetti (small cords, /spa-get-to/).
      • g + hi : paghiamo (we are paying, /pa-gja-mo/).
        • Note that this is an inserted h to keep g hard. Actually it should be pagiamo.
      • g + e :
        • ge + consonant : agenzia (agency, /a-dʒen-tsi-a/), aggettivo (adjective, /addʒet-ti-vo/). Note e exists.
        • ge + vowel : geologo (geologist, /dʒ-o-lo-go/). Note e disappears.
      • g + i :
        • gi + consonant : agitato (angry, /a-dʒi-ta-to/), aggirare (to bypass, /ad-dʒi-ra-re/). Note, i exists.
        • gi + vowel : gioia (joy, /dʒɔ-ja/), noleggiare (to hire, /no-led-dʒa-re/). Note that i disappears.
      • g + li : ʎ, please refer to l; g is only a hint.
      • g + n : ñ, please refer to n; g is only a hint.
    • Consonant n has different roles as,
      • n : n nova (new, /nɔ-va/).
      • n + k-sounds : anche (also, /aŋ-ke/), franco (outspoken, /fraŋ-ko/).
      • n + g-sounds: Inglese (English, /iŋ-gle-ze).
      • g + n : gnomo (gnome, /ñɔ-mo/), bagno (bath, /bañ-ño/).
    • We learn sounds of s as,
      • s (at the beginning) + vowel : sale (salt, /sa-le/), sole (sun, /so-le/).
      • s (at any place) + s : possibile (possible, /pos-si-bi-le/).
      • s (at any place) + c, f, p, qu, t :
        • s + c : scuola (school, /skwɔ-la/), ascoltare (to listen, /as-kol-ta-re/)
          • s (at any place) + c + e : (pronounciation symbol ∫∫ ), this exception already was discussed in study of letter 'c'.
          • s (at any place) + c + i : (pronounciation symbol ∫∫ ), this exception already was discussed in study of letter 'c'.
        • s + f : sfortuna (unfortunate, /sfor-tu-na/), asfalto (tarmac, /a-sfal-to/)
        • s + p : spiaggia (beach, /spjad-dʒa/), aspettare (to wait for, /a-spet-ta-re/)
        • s + qu : squadra (team, /skwa-dra/), esquimese (eskimo, /e-skwi-me-se/)
        • s + t : studente(student, /stu-dεn-te/), maestro (teacher, /ma-ε-stro/)
      • s (at the beginning) + any other consonant : sveglio (awake, vigile, /zveʎ-ʎo/).
      • s (not at the beginning) + Vowel  : tesoro (treasure, /te-zɔ-ro/).
      • s (at any place) + any other consonant (with the exception of c, f, p, q, t) : esame (exam, /e-za-me/).
    • s (at the beginning) + any other consonants whether voiced or unvoiced is called s-impura in Italian.
      • Note that an s-impura always begins a syllable wherever it is.
    • Letter z has two phonetic roles. They depend where the native comes from. One learn them also based on the place that he lives in Italy, or in Switzerland.
      • z : grazie (thank you, /grat-tsje/).
      • z : zia (uncle, /dzi-o/).

Things You'll Need

  • Besides an ordinary Italian - English/English - Italian dictionary you need a very high quality Italian dictionary showing feminine/masculine, grammatical roles, and most important of all, syllables and stressed syllable of each word, using phonetic symbols. A good dictionary usually includes ethymology (evolution) of words.

Tips

  • Get an Italian newspaper such as "Corriere della Sera" or "La Stampa" and try to pronounce words from random pages of them. Best is to write down them in the phonetics symbols used here. Have a try to divide them in syllables.
    • Note that books and magazines are not meant in this stage as they limit the scope of vocabulary.
    • Get hard copies not online versions.

Related How To's

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