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 |
|---|---|
| casa | house |
| fico | fig |
| con | with |
| Colesseo | Colosseum |
| capo | head |
| Cupido | Cupid |
| cane | dog |
| camera | camera |
| caffè | coffee |
| culla | cradle |
c before e or i is like the English sound ch in chest.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| cena | supper |
| voce | voice |
| cibo | food |
| concerto | concert |
| aceto | vinegar |
| cinema | cinema |
| cipolla | onion |
| facile | easy |
ch (found only before e or i) is like the English k.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| che | that |
| chimica | chemistry |
| perché | because |
| fichi | figs |
| chilo | kilo |
| chi | who |
| chiuso | closed |
| anche | also |
d is somewhat more explosive than in English, with the tongue near the tip of the upper teeth but with no aspiration.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| di | of |
| data | date |
| dove | where |
| due | two |
| denaro | money |
| dodici | twelve |
| donna | woman |
| lunedì | Monday |
| moda | fashion |
| undici | eleven |
g before a, o, and u is as in the English word go.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| gala | gala |
| albergo | hotel |
| gondola | gondola |
| gamba | leg |
| gusto | taste |
| fungo | mushroom |
| gonna | skirt |
| gomma | eraser |
| lungo | long |
| guanti | gloves |
| guidare | to drive |
| lingua | tongue |
g before e or i is like the g in gem.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| gelato | ice cream |
| angelo | angel |
| pagina | page |
| gente | people |
| gesso | chalk |
| gentile | kind |
| gita | outing |
| gennaio | January |
gh (found only before e or i) is like the g in go.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| ghetto | ghetto |
| funghe | escapes |
| laghi | lakes |
| maghi | magicians |
gli is approximately like ll in million.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| egli | he |
| meglio | better |
| figli | sons |
| famiglia | family |
| mogli | wives |
| aglio | garlic |
| fogli | sheets (of paper) |
| bottiglia | bottle |
gn is approximately like ny in canyon.
