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 mail
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 pocket
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.