Italian Pronunciation Guide: Alphabet, Vowels, Consonants, and Stress

The Italian Alphabet

21 letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, Z. (J, K, W, X, Y appear only in loanwords.)

Vowel Sounds

• A: /a/ as in "father"
• E: /e/ as in "bed"
• I: /i/ as in "machine"
• O: /o/ as in "bone"
• U: /u/ as in "boot"

Consonant Pronunciation

• C: /k/ before A, O, U; /tʃ/ (ch) before E, I
• G: /g/ before A, O, U; /dʒ/ (j) before E, I
• H: silent
• Z: /ts/ as in "pizza"
• Others (B, D, F, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V) similar to English.

Double Consonants

Pronounced distinctly: ll = l-l, rr = r-r.

Stress Rules

Usually on the penultimate syllable. Exceptions: words ending in consonant + -e stress the last syllable.

Common Examples

• Ciao → "chow"
• Grazie → "graht-see-eh"
• Buongiorno → "bwawn-jor-no"
• Come sta? → "koh-meh stah"
• Parla inglese? → "pahr-lah een-gleh-seh?"