Understanding the Sounds of Italian

Italian is known for its musicality and clear pronunciation rules. Each letter is almost always pronounced the same way, making it easier to learn once you know the rules!

Key Features

• Vowels: Italian has five pure vowels: a, e, i, o, u. Each is pronounced clearly, with no diphthongs.
• Consonants: Some consonants change sound depending on the following letter (like 'c' in ciao vs. casa).
• Double Consonants: When you see two of the same consonant, hold it a little longer when speaking (e.g., pizza).

Common Pitfalls

• Silent 'h' (as in hotel) is never pronounced.
• The letter 'z' can sound like ts (as in pizza) or dz (as in mezzo).

Practicing Pronunciation

Repeat words out loud and listen to native speakers. Try tongue twisters, like "Trentatré trentini entrarono a Trento tutti e trentatré trotterellando!"

Why It Matters

Good pronunciation makes you easily understood and boosts your confidence when speaking with native Italians.