Pronunciation
Vowels | Consonants | Common diphthongs | Digraphs
Pronunciation is relatively easy in Italian since most words are pronounced exactly how they are written. Unless accented, words are normally pronounced with the emphasis on the second to last syllable. Double consonants tend to affect how the preceding vowel is pronounced; e.g. in "sono" (I am) the "o" is pronounced like the "o" in "close", while in "sonno" (sleep) the "o" is pronounced like the "o" in "dot" and the "n" sound is a bit longer. Similarly in "sera" (evening) the "e" is pronounced like the "ay" in "say", while in "serra" the "e" is said as a short closed "e" as in "set" and the rolled "r" is a bit more marked
Vowels
a
as in "father"
e
as in "set", but more closed
i
as in "machine"
o
as in "close", but undiphthongized
u
like 'oo' in "hoop"
Consonants
b
like 'b' in "bed"
c
like 'ch' in "chipper" (before 'i' or 'e'), 'k' in "kid" (before
'a', 'o', 'u')
d
like 'd' in "dog"
f
like 'ph' in "phone"
g
like 'g' in "go", like 'j' in "jello"
h
silent
l
like 'l' in "love"
m
like 'm' in "mother"
n
like 'n' in "nice"
p
like 'p' in "pig"
q
like 'q' in "quest" (with "u", almost always)
r
trill with the tip of the tongue
s
like 'ss' in "hiss", like 'z' in "haze"
t
like 't' in "top"
v
like 'v' in "victory"
z
as in "pizza" or "adze"
Common diphthongs
ai
like 'i' in "fight"
au
like 'ow' in "brown"
ei
like 'ay' in "say"
eu
doesn't exist in English, run 'e' and 'u' together
ia
like "ya" in "yard"
ie
like 'ye' in "yes"
ii
not a diphthong but two syllables
io
like "yo" in "Yorick"
iu
like "ew" in "few"
oi
like 'oy' in "boy"
uo
like 'wo' in "won ton"
Digraphs
ch
like 'k' in "keep"
sc
before "e" or "i", like 'sh' in "sheep"
gh
like "g" in "get"
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