Oct 16, 2026 · 6 min · 5 segments
If we want to learn Italian, the first thing we have to do is learn what all the letter combinations sound like! That way when we learn vocabulary, we will know how to pronounce everything. Let's…
First, let's learn the vowel sounds, since vowels are usually what make words in a particular language difficult to pronounce.
Why is this word pronounced nation, while this one is national? If English is your second language, these anomalies can be frustrating.
These vowel sounds can be long or short, but this doesn't really affect the sound of the vowel, just the length of the syllable, so we really can rely on consistency and intuition when learning Italian.
For example, when using the letter A, it can be short, as in gatto, or it can be long, as in casa.
Even though the syllables are held for different lengths, the fundamental vowel sound is the same.
We often use the adjectives open and closed when referring to Italian vowel sounds.
Open vowels are pronounced with an open mouth, while closed vowels are pronounced with the lips just barely open.
Patata.
The letter I never sounds like the I in ship, but rather like the double E in meat.
The letter U is always very full and long, like the double O in school, and is pronounced similarly to the U in flute.
It never has a Y-sounding component like in mule, or a W-sounding component like in quick, or a more closed sound like in up.
First, let's learn the vowel sounds, since vowels are usually what make words in a particular language difficult to pronounce.
Why is this word pronounced nation, while this one is national? If English is your second language, these anomalies can be frustrating.
These vowel sounds can be long or short, but this doesn't really affect the sound of the vowel, just the length of the syllable, so we really can rely on consistency and intuition when learning Italian.
For example, when using the letter A, it can be short, as in gatto, or it can be long, as in casa.
Even though the syllables are held for different lengths, the fundamental vowel sound is the same.
We often use the adjectives open and closed when referring to Italian vowel sounds.
Open vowels are pronounced with an open mouth, while closed vowels are pronounced with the lips just barely open.
Patata.
The letter I never sounds like the I in ship, but rather like the double E in meat.
The letter U is always very full and long, like the double O in school, and is pronounced similarly to the U in flute.
It never has a Y-sounding component like in mule, or a W-sounding component like in quick, or a more closed sound like in up.
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