part0039

It goes without saying that what you have learned above would be for nought if you don’t use the right pronunciation for the words. As Italian is a phonetic language, the way words are written is equal to the way it sounds. This is one of the reasons why it is quite easy for most people to learn the proper pronunciation when compared to other languages.

Besides, part of the language’s beauty and charm lies in the way each word is spoken. It is often referred to as la bella lingua for a reason!

In this chapter, we’ll tackle the most basic rules when it comes to pronouncing words in Italian.

Much like the English language, Italian also makes use of the vowels: A, E, I, O, U. That said, there is a difference when it comes to how they are pronounced.

Some Italian consonants, such as B, F, M, N, and V, should be pronounced in the same manner as its English counterpart. The rest, however, are very different from what English-speakers are used to.

- D: Put your tongue against your teeth to make the sound a bit more explosive or to give it a bit more emphasis. For example: DOVE

- R: You must roll your R’s to really give it that Italian sound. To do this, flip your tongue against your upper teeth when speaking. For example: ARRIVERDERCI.

- Z: This can often sound more like T but give it more zest—especially if two z’s are used together. For example: PIZZA

NOTE: In the Italian language, there are certain consonants that have two unique pronunciations depending on how it’s used. For example:

- S and SS – If S is used singular or in the middle of it, it often sounds like a Z. Such is the case with the word “CASA”. However, if it’s used in doubles then the S sound is emphasized, such as in the word “PASSARE”

- Z and ZZ – When used singular, the Z is often silent. This can be seen in the word “DIZIONARIO”. When it appears in doubles, however, the sound is similar to the letter T, such as in the word “PIZZA”.

- G – If this letter appears before A, O, or, U, then the sound is hard like in “GRANDE”. If the letter appears before E or I, as seen in the word “GELATO”, then the sound is softer.

- C – If it appears before the letters A, O, or U, then the sound is similar to the letter K as seen in “CANE”. If it appears before I or E, however, then the sound is similar to CH, as seen in “CENA”.

Another thing to note when it comes to learning more about Italian pronunciations would be consonant digigraphs. There are several that you should familiarize yourself with; doing so would help you quickly recognize different word pronunciations. Below are a few examples:

- GN – The G is silent whilst there’s a hard emphasis on the N. For example: “GNOCCHI”

- GLI – The G is silent and the emphasis is on the letter L. For example: “FAMIGLIA”.

- SC – When used before the letters A, O, or U, this sounds like SK. For example: “SCARPE”. But if it’s used before I or E, this sounds more like SH. For example: “PESCE”.

Fact: In Italian, all consonants can be doubled—save for the letter H for that one’s always silent. One of the most common difficulties that new learners encounter is stumbling on their double consonants; that’s mostly because there are very few of these in English.

Tip: Remember that double consonants have a more forced pronunciation. Just think of the CC in the word “SECCA”.

And there you have it, a few easy tips to remember when it comes to learning the language. Note that singing popular Italian songs can help you get a better feel for the right pronunciation. Just keep on practicing and you’ll find speaking the more difficult words a lot easier.

Learning doesn’t have to stop once you close this book or if you’re not planning on visiting Italy anytime soon. There are many everyday things that you can do that will help with, not only retaining what you have learned, but also putting all that knowledge into practice.

That is key to really becoming more fluent in any language—you must use it as often as possible.

So, that’s what the following tips are for: to help you improve your Italian by doing things that will easily fit into your everyday routine. You need not have a lot of free hours to do any of these. For fifteen to thirty minutes a day, you should be able to practice and become more comfortable with speaking the language.

Once you get past a certain stage in your learning, you might feel the need to rush through all the other ones—whether it be because of overconfidence or eagerness. However, this is not the best way to do things. Especially so if you’ve decided to skip certain lessons just so you can get to the ones that interest you the most.

Always start from the basics. Learning Italian bit by bit is pretty fundamental. Practice the words and phrases provided in this book first. Do your best to master the right pronunciations, as well as the nuances needed to really bring the right emotion to your words.

Yes, it can be a little tedious—but this is an important key when it comes to your learning. Start simple and work your way up.

When it comes to learning a language and mastering its sounds, listening is key. You don’t have to live in Italy in order to familiarize yourself with how words or phrases are spoken. With the advent of the internet came different channels through which you would be able to easily connect with other cultures. I recommend taking advantage of these platforms for furthering your knowledge of Italian.

For example, there are many language based YouTube channels that you can subscribe to. There are Italian shows, movies, and even news pieces uploaded online every single day. These will not only allow you to listen to proper pronunciations, it would also enable you to gauge your listening comprehension and if it needs to be improved as well.

Aside from TV shows, many people tend to learn languages quickly by listening to songs everyday. The more you listen to it, the faster it’ll stick in your memory.

Perhaps you heard it in a song or overheard a word you’re unfamiliar with during discussion. It will help your learning if you keep note of these so you can look them up later. Writing things down also improves your ability to retain it, making it easier for you to remember certain phrases and keywords.

Remember, once you do look up the meaning of the words you’ve noted down, make sure that you also write down its definition alongside it. Again, this is for both retention and so you can refer to these notes later when you need to use them.

Learning languages is a continuous process. It doesn’t stop when you’ve closed the modules or gone offline. It is important that you spare a bit of time when it comes to studying and reviewing what you already know. Think of this as a refresher that will help you, not only retain the knowledge, but also to slowly assimilate the language into everyday use.

If you have a bit of time in between doing office work, household chores, studying for school, or taking care of the kids—pull out your module or your notes and start practicing. Go through Italian news websites and read the words out loud. If you feel up to it, you can even purchase Italian literature to read for practice.

You may not think much of these little things, but every small effort you make does add up towards making you a better reader and speaker. 30 minutes a day isn’t much but trust me when I say that it still counts!

We’ve already touched on the power of technology and how you should harness that when it comes to your learning. These days, there are countless APPS that you can use for learning Italian—as well as practicing it. Just look into apps that enable you to chat with native Italian speakers. The idea here is that whilst you’re learning Italian through them, they could also learn your native language through you.

Many young people use this, given its social aspect as well. You gain a few friends through the process and improve your grasp of the language as well. These apps can be used just about everywhere—while you’re waiting in line for something, while you’re commuting, or even while you’re enjoying downtimes during vacations.

Now, just make sure you take the necessary precautions when using apps such these. Never give out personal information and make sure you are using a verified and legitimate app.

For example, write down your favorite Italian quotes on a calendar so you’ll see them everytime you check for the date. Whilst going about your everyday routines, you can do small exercises such as pointing at an object and using the Italian name for it. You can even go further and describe the object using the language. Not only is it a fun game to play, but you’re also training your brain to think in this foreign language as well.

Do you write a lot of notes and reminders for yourself? Do these in Italian. Again, it will help you brain get used to thinking in the language and it will improve your reading and writing comprehension as well. Both are essential if you are to become more natural at speaking the language.

By incorporating the language in your everyday life, not only are you setting yourself up for becoming better at memorizing the words, you are also training yourself on how to use it better—more naturally. It all boils down to application and how much your practice its use. It is one thing to know the words and yet another to have both confidence and ability to use them in real life.

So, keep these tips in mind! Use every available opportunity to learn and to improve what you already know. Learning a language doesn’t really stop—it’s a continuous process. Might as well make it fun for yourself, right?