Do you want to speak like an Italian native? Below, Italian teacher Giulio G. shares the five most common Italian pronunciation mistakes and how to avoid them…
Italian is a relatively phonetic language, which means that almost each grapheme corresponds to a singular phoneme. In other words, the Italian language is spoken as it is written.
Thanks to this characteristic of the language, it is easy to learn proper Italian pronunciation just by knowing the alphabet. However, there are still some letters and combinations that may be difficult to pronounce, especially for students who are just beginning to learn Italian.
In this post, we’ll give you a clear Italian pronunciation guide so you can avoid common pronunciation mistakes in Italian – and start speaking the language fluently as quickly as possible!
How Do You Pronounce Italian Words Correctly?
Here are some tips for mastering Italian pronunciation:
- Remember that Italian is a phonetic language – once you learn the rules, you can pronounce any word
- Learn Italian alphabet pronunciation first – letter by letter
- Know that double consonants are an indication that you should pronounce the letter with more force
- Remember that “gn” sounds more like “ny” and a vowel
- Exaggeration is good!
- Listen to Italian pronunciation audio online
- Listen to as much Italian as possible
- Repeat words that are particularly challenging so you get the hang of them
Still confused? Check out this video with five basic Italian pronunciation rules you need to master:
5 Common Italian Pronunciation Mistakes
Below we explore the five most common Italian pronunciation mistakes and how you can avoid them.
1. The Letter C
The first common mistake that many beginner students make is related to the letter C, as this tricky consonant can have a hard or soft sound.
Proper Pronunciation of Hard C
The sound of a hard C, which precedes the vowels A, O and U, is pronounced as a /k/, as in the English word “car.” Common Italian words with this type of sound are:
- cane (dog)
- cosa (thing)
- cultura (culture)
Proper Pronunciation of Soft C
The sound of a soft C, which precedes the vowels E and I, is pronounced as a /Ch/, as in the English word “chair.” Common Italian words that have this particular sound are:
- cena (dinner)
- cibo (food)
Exception: If the C is followed by an ‘he’ or an ‘hi,’ it has a hard sound, meaning that the /Ch/ has to be pronounced as a /K/.
2. The Letter G
The letter G is another problematic consonant. Its pronunciation essentially follows the exact same rules of the letter C, in that it has both a hard and soft sound.
Proper Pronunciation of Hard G
G has a hard sound if it is followed by the vowels A, O and U. The sound of the Italian hard G is the same of the G in the English word “game.” Examples of Italian words that contain a hard G sound are:
Proper Pronunciation of Soft G
G has a soft sound if it is followed by the vowels E or I. This sound is the same as the J in the English word “journey.” Some examples of common Italian words containing the soft G are:
- giraffa (giraffe)
- gelato (ice cream)
Exception: If the G is followed by ‘he’ or ‘hi,’ it has a hard sound.
3. The Letter Combination ‘Gli’
The letter combination ‘gli’ is one of the most difficult sounds to pronounce. Beginner students, who are not familiar with the Italian language, mistakenly pronounce it as the English word “glee.”
However, ‘gli’ has a soft sound, not a hard one. The best way to perfect your pronunciation of ‘gli’ is to say the English name “Lee,” but, instead of touching your teeth with the tip of your tongue, you have to position the central part of your tongue on your palate.
4. The Letter Combination ‘Gn’
The fourth common Italian pronunciation mistake is related to the sound ‘gn.’ This letter combination is present also in the English language; however, in Italian, it is pronounced in a totally different way. Essentially, the ‘gn’ sound in Italian is pronounced as ‘ny’ in the English word “canyon.”
5. Double Consonants
Last but not least, the final Italian pronunciation mistake that beginner students make is not pronouncing double consonants. Unlike in English, you must pronounce a double consonant in Italian, utilizing more energy and giving more length to the sound.
For example, the words capelli (hair) and cappelli (hats) are pronounced in two different ways. To pronounce the word cappelli, it’s necessary to put more energy into saying the consonant P.
If this proves to be difficult for you, another possible solution is to pronounce the consonants separately without pausing too much. For example, try pronouncing cappelli as “kap-pel-lee.”
How to Learn Italian Pronunciation Rules
When you’re trying to master basic Italian phrases and pronunciation, it can be a bit tricky to get the hang of things.
Here are some tips for mastering the proper pronunciation of Italian.
1. Listen to Italian Pronunciation Audio Online
Tune your ears first before learning the ins and outs of the language. If you don’t, you may find yourself making the same mistakes over and over again.
There are all kinds of Italian dictionaries that will allow you to hear the proper pronunciation of various Italian words before you learn them incorrectly.
These are available on paper, in the traditional sense, but of course, if you don’t want to buy a traditional paper copy, you can always rely on an online Italian dictionary with pronunciation notes as well.
2. Start With Basic Italian Alphabet Pronunciation
When you were first learning to read English, you didn’t start with complex vocabulary first – you started with the ABCs! Learn how to pronounce Italian alphabet letters first, then move on to more complex words and phrases.
3. Immerse Yourself
Whenever possible, have conversations with native speakers. You can do this in-person or even turn to online chat resources to help.
Listen to Italian music and radio, watch Italian movies and television, and do your best to fully immerse yourself in the language. This will help you get an idea of how words are supposed to be pronounced!
4. Use a Mirror and a Recorder
If you are struggling with specific sounds, you may want to use a mirror. By watching the ways you move your tongue and mouth, you can get an idea of how to pronounce certain words correctly.
Recording yourself can have the same effect. Pronounce a sentence, listen to the recording, and then compare it to how a native Italian speaker might pronounce those words.
How Long Does it Take to Master Basic Italian Pronunciation?
The average student will take around 600 hours to become fluent in Italian. Of course, this includes all aspects of learning the language, including its grammar and vocabulary and not just the basic pronunciation.
Practice often – and consider taking Italian lessons to improve your Italian pronunciation. They’ll be able to teach you about more Italian pronunciation mistakes to avoid as well as some other tips for mastering this tricky (albeit beautiful!) language.
Let’s face it: The proper pronunciation of Italian words can be difficult. However, you now have the tools to help you, so you can continue to practice and eventually perfect your speaking skills!
Post Author: Giulio G.Giulio G. teaches in-person Italian lessons in New York City. He is originally from Florence, Italy and is currently a student at the University of Florence for Languages and Intercultural Relations. He has been teaching lessons since 2009. Learn more about Giulio here!
Photo by Michael Foley
Suzy S.