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Italian spelling is quite predictable. That is, in most cases one can easily know how to spell a word knowing its prounuciation.
Letters
Letters A, B, D, F, L, M, N, P, R, T, V are pronounced as their lowercase form in IPA. The three-letter acronym IPA can stand for any of the following (listed in alphabetical order): Independent Pilots Association India Pale Ale Institute of Public Affairs Institute for Propaganda Analysis International Phonetic Alphabet. ...
C Pronounced /tʃ/ before E and I, and /k/ elsewhere. /tʃa/, /tʃo/, /tʃu/, /ke/ and /ki/ are spelt CIA, CIO, CIU, CHE and CHI respectively.
E When unstressed, it is pronounced /e/. When stressed, it is pronounced /ɛ/ in some words and /e/ in others. In dictionaries, or whenerer one wants to avoid confusion, unstressed /e/ is e, stressed /e/ is é and stressed /ɛ/ is è.
G Pronounced /dʒ/ before E and I. GLI is pronounced /ʎʎi/ (or simply /ʎʎ/ if I is unstressed and followed by another vowel) in most words. For words in which it is pronounced /ɡli/ some dictionaries give the full phonetic transcription. GN is pronounced /ɲɲ/. Exceptions, e. g. words derived from foreing proper names (e. g. wagneriano from Wagner) are extremely rare. Elsewhere it is pronounced /ɡ/. /dʒa/, /dʒo/, /dʒu/, /ɡe/ and /ɡi/ are spelt GIA, GIO, GIU, GHE and GHI respectively. Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 in Leipzig – February 13, 1883 in Venice) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his groundbreaking symphonic-operas (or music dramas). His compositions are notable for their continuous contrapuntal texture, rich harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate...
H It has no pronunciation on its own. It only serves to separe letters in groups CHE, CHI, GHE, and GHI lest the consonant become a postalveolar affricate /tʃ/ or /dʒ/ instead of a velar plosive /k/ or /ɡ/, and to differentiate forms of the verb to have, exclamations and some (rare) proper names from their homophones.
I Pronounced /i/, except when unstressed and followed by another vowel, in which case it is pronounced /j/ (or simply dropped if preceded by a postalveolar or palatal /tʃ/, /dʒ/, /ʃʃ/, /ʎʎ/ or /ɲɲ/). Sometimes it is still syllabic even when unstressed and followed by another vowel, however dictionaries always give syllabations of words so it's easy to distinguish them.
J In native Italian words, it is pronounced /j/, but it can be (and almost always is) replaced by I in modern Italian. Nowadays it is more commonly encountered in foreign words.
K In native Italian words (very rare), it is pronounced /k/, however it is more commonly encountered in foreign words.
O When unstressed, it is pronounced /o/. When stressed, it is pronounced /ɔ/ in some words and /o/ in others. In dictionaries, or whenerer one wants to avoid confusion, unstressed /o/ is o, stressed /o/ is ó and stressed /ɔ/ is ò.
Q Only occourring in groups QUA, QUE, QUI and QUO pronounced /kwa/, /kwe/ or /kwɛ/, /kwi/ and /kwo/ or /kwɔ/ respectively.
S Before a voiceless consonant (and when doubled) it is pronounced /s/. Before a voiced consonant it is pronounced /z/. Between a word boundary and a vowel, or between a consonant and a vowel, it is pronounced /s/. Between two vowels it is pronounced /s/ in some words and /z/ in others. (However minimal pairs are really very few.) Dictionaries often distinguish the latter, e. g. as s or ʃ. SCI and SCE are pronounced /ʃʃi/ (or simply /ʃʃ/ if I is unstressed and followed by another vowel) and /ʃʃe/ or /ʃʃɛ/ respectively. /ski/ and /ske/ are spelt SCHI and SCHE.
U Pronounced /u/, except when unstressed and followed by another vowel, in which case it is pronounced /w/. Sometimes it is still syllabic even when unstressed and followed by another vowel, however dictionaries always give syllabations of words so it's easy to distinguish them.
W Not occourring in any native Italian word.
X Pronounced /ks/ (rare in native Italian words).
Y Not occurring in any native Italian word.
Z it is pronounced /ts/ in some words and /dz/ in others. (However minimal pairs are really very few.) Dictionaries often distinguish the latter, e. g. as z or ʒ. They are always pronounced as geminated /tts/ and /ddz/ whenever preceded by a vowel, even when they are spelt single.
Notes:
- Double consonants are true geminated. For example mappa (cat) is pronounced /ˈmappa/ (more precisely [ˈmap̚.pa]). Sounds /ʃʃ/, /ʎʎ/, /ɲɲ/, /tts/ and /ddz/ are always geminated after vowels, whereas /z/ is never.
- There are some words (mostly monosyllabic or stressed on their last syllable) ending in vowels which force the first consonant of the next word to be geminated.
- Foreign words are (or at least should be) pronounced as in their original language. For a dictionary who tells what they are (as opposed to should be) pronounced, see [www.garzantilinguistica.it].
Guide to pronunciation of phonemes - Main article: Italian phonology
// Phonology Vowels Notes: In Italian there is no phonemic distinction between long and short vowels. ...
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