In Italian, we read as we write. There are several letters and letter combinations that have peculiarities in reading and writing.

1.C = K, C

• C+A, O, U = K
• C + consonant = K
• C+ h = K

casa – house                    withsa – something                              withore – heart

camera – room swithola – school macchina – car

my friendwith – friend amica – girlfriend                chitarra – guitar

classe – class perche– why                            chi – who, which

• C+ I, E = H

cielo – sky luthis – light                         thisna – dinner

yesnque – five                    yesao – hello, bye ció- this

yesnemna – cinemathis – peace                                Yessare – Caesar

ca – ka                                       cia – cha

with – who                                      that – who

with – ku                                      ciu – heard

chi – ki                                     ci – chi

che – will                                     this – that

2.G = G, J

• G+A, O, U = G
• G+ consonant = G
• G+ h = G

yesllo – rooster                   yesllina- hen                      yestto – cat

yestta – cat lago – lake                              yespardo – cheetah

luogo – place layestto – pond albergo – hotel

funghi – mushrooms                  ghitarra- guitar                      gola – throat

• G+ I, E = D

yesnightchio – knee                  yesnnaio – January            gia'- already

giovedí – Thursday                 giorno – day                    yeslato – ice cream

giornale – newspaper parmigiano – cheese

yes – yes                                       gia – ja

go – it                                       gio – Joe

gu – gu                                       juju – ju

ghi – them                                     gi – ji

yes – ge                                     yes – je

3. S = S, H

S+ before a vowel = C   S+ voiceless consonant (p, f, t, c) = C   SS – double = SS	yesla – hall                      sole- sun yeslame – salami               solo – alone scaffale –cabinet inyeslata – salad studente – student          yeslato – salty yesi – six sasso – stone yestte –seven basso – low speciale- special rosso – red
S+ between two vowels = Z S+ voiced consonant (b, d, g, r, l, m, n, v) = H	svizzero – Swiss       svedEnglish– Swede snello – slender                 smalto – enamel, varnish sbrigare – I hurry withasa – house cwasp – something rwasp – rose slitta – sled

4.sound      W = SCI

science – sha    know – what science – shu science   – shi    school  – will

scimmia – monkey pesce – fish sciale - scarf piscina - pool scena – scene sgivalare – slip asciugamano – towel scelta – choice

5. sound combination K+U+ vowel = Q+U+vowel

where – qua   what – quo who – kuy    that – kueh

quattro – four quà – here quí – here aquistare- acquire water

quo = hear in the following words: cui, circuito, cuoco, cuore, scuola, cuoio, taccuino, cospicuo, innocuo, perspicuo, proficuo, promiscuo, vacuo, acuire, arcuare, circuire, cuocere, evacuare, percuotere, riscuotere, scuotere

6. Softening the “G” and “L”

GNO – HEY GNA – NO	lavagna – blackboard sdegno – anger bagno – bathroom legno – wood
GLI – LE GL + a,o,u,e = GL	sbaglio – mistake figlio- son famiglia – family figlia – daughter foglio – leaf, sheet   inlookyes – English glosario – dictionary

7. Z – C, DZ

Z- at the beginning of the word = DZ ZZ  – CC, DZ -ZIONE – we read C -AZZO, -IZZA – we read C -EZZO – C or DZ

zio – uncle     piece– number zia – aunt, aunt pazzo – crazy zaino – backpack pizza – pizza bouquet middle – way, means

© 2025 Iliana Dechkova