Some consonants have two pronunciations, depending on the letter (generally a vowel) that is before that consonant.
The approximate English equivalents for these consonants are as follows:
- q-Q: This
consonant exists only in connection with u followed by another vowel; that is, you always find qu. The "q" is pronounced
like (k), or like the English "qu" in quest. Examples:
- Questo » this.
- Quinto » fifth.
- Quale » which.
- Quarto » fourth.
- Quanto » how much.
- Quantità » quantity.
- Quadro » picture.
- Qualità » quality.
- r-R: This sound
is always "rolled", like a Scottish "r" in Edinburgh, or a Spanish "r" in
señor.You don’t pronounce the Italian r with your tongue in the back, as you
do the English r; rather, you can obtain this sound making the
tip of the tongue vibrate almost against the hard palate, next to the back of the upper teeth. It never sounds
as an English r, nor as a French r. Examples:
- Ora » now.
- Tenore » tenor.
- Albergo » hotel.
- Baritono » baritone.
- Arte » art.
- Orologio » watch.
- Porta » door.
- Sardina
» sardine.
- s-S: This consonant has
two pronunciations:
S is sometimes strong and hissing like the English "s" in house,
set, strip. Example:
- Soggiorno » living room.
- Testa » head.
- Stanza » room.
- Festa » party; holiday.
- Posta » mail.
- Stufato » stew.
- Pasta » pasta; dough; pastry.
- Pista » track.
S is sometimes
(but always before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, and v) like the english s in
easy, or the the English "z" in zoo. Examples:
- Rosa » rose.
- Casa » house.
- Tesoro » treasure.
- Frase » phrase.
- Sbaglio » mistake.
- Esercizio » exercise.
- Svelto » quick.
- Musica » music.
- Sgridare » to scold.
- Sbadato
» careless.
- z-Z: This consonant has
two pronunciations(*):
Z is sometimes voiceless, like ts is
bets, cats. Example:
- Pizza » pizza.
- Negozio » store.
- Marzo » March.
- Venezia » Venice.
- Grazie » thank you.
- Dizionario
» dictionary.
Z is sometimes voiced, like ds in beds. Examples:
- Zero » zero.
- Zebra » zebra.
- Pranzo » lunch.
- Zelo » zeal.
- Romanzo » novel.
- Zanzara
» mosquito.
(*) In either case, its sound differs more distinctly from s than it
does in English.
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