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The Italian sound system

Learn the first grammar system for Tappa 1.

Letters, stress, and clear sounds

The traditional Italian alphabet has 21 letters. The letters j, k, w, x, and y occur mainly in foreign words and names. Italian spelling is regular: read every written vowel and keep double consonants longer than single consonants.

The letters c and g are soft before e or i. They are hard before a, o, or u. A silent h keeps them hard before e or i. The written accent is compulsory on a final stressed vowel.

  • cena / cinema· dinner / cinema - soft c
  • casa / cosa· house / thing - hard c
  • gelato / giro· ice cream / tour - soft g
  • gatto / gomma· cat / eraser - hard g

Form and use

Compare the forms in the second set. Identify what changes, what stays fixed, and what meaning the change creates.

  • che / chi· that / who - hard c with h
  • spaghetti· spaghetti - hard g with h
  • pala / palla· shovel / ball - single and double l
  • città· city - final written accent

In context

The words of this lesson in sentences from other A1 lessons.