| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| signora | lady |
| lavagna | blackboard |
| signore | gentleman |
| bagno | bath |
| signorina | young lady |
| sogno | dream |
| lasagne | lasagna |
| spugna | sponge |
h is silent.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| ho | I have |
| hotel | hotel |
| ha | has |
| ahi! | ouch! |
| hanno | they have |
l is as in English, but sharper and more forward in the mouth.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| olio | oil |
| lingua | language |
| sale | salt |
| lungo | long |
| melone | melon |
| luna | moon |
| scuola | school |
| light | light |
p is as in English, but without the aspiration that sometimes accompanies this sound in English.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| pane | bread |
| patata | potato |
| pepe | pepper |
| papà | dad |
| popone | melon |
| ponte | bridge |
| pipa | pipe |
| punto | period |
| pasto | meal |
| pronuncia | pronunciation |
| Alpi | Alps |
| psicologo | psychologist |
qu is always pronounced like the English qu in quest.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| questo | this |
| quinto | fifth |
| quale | which |
| quarto | fourth |
| quanto | how much |
| quantità | quantity |
| quadro | picture |
| qualità | quality |
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 |
|---|---|
| ora | now |
| tenore | tenor |
| albergo | hotel |
| baritono | baritone |
| arte | art |
| orologio | watch |
| porta | door |
| sardina | sardine |
s is sometimes like the English s in house.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| soggiorno | living room |
| testa | head |
| stanza | room |
| festa | party; holiday |
| posta | |
| stufato | stew |
| pasta | pasta; dough; pastry |
| pista | track |
s is sometimes (but always before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, and v) like the English s in rose.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| rosa | rose |
| tesoro | treasure |
| frase | phrase |
| svelto | quick |
| sbaglio | mistake |
| esercizio | exercise |
| musica | music |
| sgridare | to scold |
| susina | plum |
| sbadato | careless |
sc before a, o, or u is like sk in ask.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| ascoltare | to listen |
| scuola | school |
| pesca | peach |
| tasca | |
| toscano | Tuscan |
| scaloppine | cutlets |
| scarpa | shoe |
| scultura | sculpture |
| disco | disk; record |
| scopo | purpose |
sc before e or i is like the English sound sh in fish.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| finisce | finishes |
| sci | ski |
| pesce | fish |
| conoscere | to know |
| scena | scene |
| scendere | to descend |
| uscita | exit |
| uscio | door |
sch occurs only before e or i, and is pronounced like the English sk.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| pesche | peaches |
| tasche | pockets |
| dischi | disks; records |
| scheletro | skeleton |
| fiaschi | flasks |
| lische | fishbones |
t is approximately the same as in English, but no escaping of breath accompanies it in Italian.
