Italian Language - Basic Vocabulary and Pronunciation
Italian is read as written, each vowel and consonant are pronounced except H. Words ending in -o are masculine and ending in -a are feminine. Masculine words end in -I and feminine words end in -e.
Italian Pronunciation:
- B, F, M, N and V Pronounced as in English
- Ca, Co, Cu Sounds like K in English
- Ce, Ci Sound like CH in church
- D Sounds like D in English
- Ga, Go, Gu Sounds like G in good
- Ge, Gi Sounds like G in general
- Gli Sounds like LL in million
- Gn Sounds like NY in canyon
- H Is not pronounced
- L Sounds like L in English
- P Pronounced as in English
- Qu Sounds like QU in quest
- R Sounds like R in trilled
- S before vowels and unvoiced consonants Pronounced like S in sun
- S before voiced consonants Pronounced like S in rose
- T Sounds like T in English
- Z Sounds like DS in beds or like TS in bets
- A Sounds like A in father
- E Sounds like E in Pen or AI Fair
- I Sounds like EA in Tea or I in Marine
- O Sounds like O in Cozy or O in Cost
- U Sounds like U in Rude
Useful Italian Words:
- Yes - sì
- Where - Dove
- Now - Adesso
- No - No
- When - Quando
- Later - più tardi
- Please - Per Favore
- Why - Perché
- May I / Can I - Posso
- Thank you - Grazie
- Who - Chi
- Good morning - Buon giorno
- You’re welcome - Prego
- Here - Qui
- Good afternoon - Buona sera
- Excuse me - Scusi
- There - là
- Good evening - Buona notte
- Hello - Ciao
- I’m sorry - Mi dispiace
- Open - Aperto
- Good bye - Ciao
- left - Sinistra
- Closed - Chiuso
- Hello (Phone) - Pronto
- Right - Destra
- Good - Buono
- Today - Oggi
- Tomorrow - Domani
- Bad - Cattivo
- Big - Grande
- With - Con
- More - Più
- Small - Piccolo
- Without - Senza
- Less - Meno
- Hot - Caldo
- Early - Presto
- Help - Aiuto
- Cold - Freddo
- Late - Ritardo
- How - Come
Useful Italian Phrases:
- How are you? - Come sta / stai?
- Where are the toilets? - Dove sono I gabinetti?
- I’m fine - Sto bene.
- Where can I buy… - Dove posso comprare…
- I don’t understand - Non ho capito
- What time is it? - che cosa è il tempo?
- How much is it? - Quant'è?
- Can I have the bill? - Il conto
- Do you have a room? - Avete camere libere?
- Where are we? - Dove siamo?
- How much per night? - Quanto costa una notte?
- What’s your name? - Come ti chiami?
- Where is the train station? - Dov’è la stazione?
- Can you help me? - potete aiutarli
- Where is the bus station? - Dove’è la ferroviaria degli autobus?
- I’m looking for… - Cerco…
