When learning a language, one of the aspects we must first analyze is the alphabet, or more specifically, the ordered sequence of letters and sounds that allow us to read and write. Let’s take a look at the obvious differences between the Italian alphabet and the alphabets of other languages.
The Italian alphabet is derived from the ancient Latin alphabet and consists of 21 letters, including 16 consonants and 5 vowels. On the surface it looks exactly the same as French, English, and other languages, but if you look closely at the pronunciation of individual letters and another odd detail we’ll reveal later, there are many differences.
If you want to learn Italian, studying its alphabet can be very useful as it will help you understand the sounds that distinguish it. Let’s start by reading the alphabet the traditional way, remembering that if you want to learn it sequentially, you can always accompany it with a melody. This technique makes learning easier and more fun, not only for kids, but adults too!
Italian alphabet with pronunciation
A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – L
M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – Z
We’ve seen a list of all the letters in the Italian alphabet, but when we speak, it’s important to know that the letters aren’t always pronounced this way.
This is where the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) comes in handy! IPA recognizes the sound changes created to pronounce words and can help us better identify the different sounds that define individual letters. Here, we’ll give examples of everyday words so you can see how they sound in everyday language:
Pinyin alphabet
One
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /One/
Example: cheer (joy), tree (tree)
Second
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /b/
Example: child, whale
C
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /k/
Example: casa (house), conoscere (know)
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /ʧ/
Example: onion (onion), dinner
D
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /d/
Example: delfino (dolphin), destino (fate)
Second
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /ɛ/
Example: ecco (here, there)
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /e/
Example: energia (energy), real estate (summer)
F
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /F/
Example: family (family), fontana (fountain)
G
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /G/
Example: race (race), cat (cat)
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /ʤ/
Example: gelato (ice cream), girare (swirl)
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /ʎ/
Example: gli (/to him/to them), aglio (garlic)
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /ɲ/
Example: gnome (gnome), gnocchi (gnocchi)
I
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /A generation/
Example: salad (salad), island
large
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /l/
Example: work (work, work), Lana (wool)
Meter
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /Meter/
Example: mountain (mountain), cow (cow)
n
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /n/
Example: normal (normal), new (new)
○
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /o/
Example: glasses, shadow
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /ɔ/
Example: oca (goose), olio (oil)
phosphorus
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /p/
Example: Door (door), panda (panda)
R
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /r/
Example: ristorante (restaurant), rana (frog)
small
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /s/
Example: drowsiness, snake
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /ʃ/
Example: scene (scene), ski (ski)
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /z/
Example: sluggish, awake
Ton
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /Ton/
Example: table (table), train (train)
u
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /u/
Example: grape (grape), man (man)
five
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /v/
Example: vento (wind), vino (wine)
Z
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /ts/
Example: zozzo (dirty, rude), pizza (pizza)
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /ds/
Example: Zoo (Zoo), Mosquito (Mosquito)
Curious about the Italian alphabet
Did you notice something strange while reading the Italian alphabet? Maybe you’re wondering if we forgot some letters, or why we didn’t insert them.
A very interesting curiosity is that the Italian alphabet does not include several letters because originally, Italian words did not use them. Today, in practice, the five foreign letters J, K, Y, X, W are used for mostly foreign words or Latin derivatives. If we’re going to talk about the 26-letter alphabet, we have to use the term “Latin alphabet”.
Here are the correct pronunciations of foreign letters and how we use them at the beginning of words:
J (“base”)
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /ʤ/
Example: jet (jet), jeans (jeans)
K (“Kappa”)
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /k/
Example: Kiwi (kiwi), ketchup (ketchup)
W (“Double Wave”)
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /w/
Example: week-end (weekend), windsurfing (windsurf)
X(“ICS”)
International Phonetic Alphabet Symbols: /ks/
Example: xilofono (xylophone), xenofobia (xenophobia)
Y (“ipsilon”)
International Phonetic Alphabet symbols: /j/
Example: Yoyo (yo-yo), yogurt (yogurt)
italian alphabet song
Here are some helpful videos to help you remember the Italian alphabet. Both versions contain the above five foreign letters.
