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 casahouseficofigconwithColesseoColosseumcapoheadCupidoCupidcanedogcameracameracaffècoffeecullacradle
c before e or i is like the English sound ch in chest.
Italian English cenasuppervocevoicecibofoodconcertoconcertacetovinegarcinemacinemacipollaonionfacileeasy
ch (found only before e or i) is like the English k.
Italian English chethatchimicachemistryperchébecausefichifigschilokilochiwhochiusoclosedanchealso
d is somewhat more explosive than in English, with the tongue near the tip of the upper teeth but with no aspiration.
Italian English diofdatadatedovewhereduetwodenaromoneydodicitwelvedonnawomanlunedìMondaymodafashionundicieleven
g before a, o, and u is as in the English word go.
Italian English galagalaalbergohotelgondolagondolagambaleggustotastefungomushroomgonnaskirtgommaeraserlungolongguantiglovesguidareto drivelinguatongue
g before e or i is like the g in gem.
Italian English gelatoice creamangeloangelpaginapagegentepeoplegessochalkgentilekindgitaoutinggennaioJanuary
gh (found only before e or i) is like the g in go.
Italian English ghettoghettofungheescapeslaghilakesmaghimagicians
gli is approximately like ll in million.
Italian English eglihemegliobetterfiglisonsfamigliafamilymogliwivesagliogarlicfoglisheets (of paper)bottigliabottle
gn is approximately like ny in canyon.
Italian English signoraladylavagnablackboardsignoregentlemanbagnobathsignorinayoung ladysognodreamlasagnelasagnaspugnasponge
h is silent.
Italian English hoI havehotelhotelhahasahi!ouch!hannothey have
l is as in English, but sharper and more forward in the mouth.
Italian English oliooillingualanguagesalesaltlungolongmelonemelonlunamoonscuolaschoollightlight
p is as in English, but without the aspiration that sometimes accompanies this sound in English.
Italian English panebreadpatatapotatopepepepperpapàdadpoponemelonpontebridgepipapipepuntoperiodpastomealpronunciapronunciationAlpiAlpspsicologopsychologist
qu is always pronounced like the English qu in quest.
Italian English questothisquintofifthqualewhichquartofourthquantohow muchquantitàquantityquadropicturequalitàquality
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 oranowtenoretenoralbergohotelbaritonobaritonearteartorologiowatchportadoorsardinasardine
s is sometimes like the English s in house.
Italian English soggiornoliving roomtestaheadstanzaroomfestaparty; holidaypostamailstufatostewpastapasta; dough; pastrypistatrack
s is sometimes (but always before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, and v) like the English s in rose.
Italian English rosarosetesorotreasurefrasephrasesveltoquicksbagliomistakeesercizioexercisemusicamusicsgridareto scoldsusinaplumsbadatocareless
sc before a, o, or u is like sk in ask.
Italian English ascoltareto listenscuolaschoolpescapeachtascapockettoscanoTuscanscaloppinecutletsscarpashoesculturasculpturediscodisk; recordscopopurpose
sc before e or i is like the English sound sh in fish.
Italian English finiscefinishessciskipescefishconoscereto knowscenascenescendereto descenduscitaexitusciodoor
sch occurs only before e or i, and is pronounced like the English sk.
Italian English peschepeachestaschepocketsdischidisks; recordsscheletroskeletonfiaschiflaskslischefishbones
t is approximately the same as in English, but no escaping of breath accompanies it in Italian.
Italian English contentogladcartapaperarteartmatitapencilturistatouristantipastoappetizertelefonotelephonetestahead
z is sometimes voiceless, like ts is bets.
Italian English pizzapizzanegoziostoremarzoMarchVeneziaVenicegraziethank youdizionariodictionary
z is sometimes voiced, like ds in beds.
Italian English zerozerozebrazebrapranzolunchzelozealromanzonovelzanzaramosquito
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 aranciaorangegiornalenewspaperciliegiacherryciaoso longsalsicciasausagecamiciashirtlasciareto leavescienzascience
