The consonants not listed below (b, f, m, n, v) are pronounced as in English. The approximate English equivalents are as follows:

c before a, o, and u is like the English k.

Italian	English
casa	house
fico	fig
con	with
Colesseo	Colosseum
capo	head
Cupido	Cupid
cane	dog
camera	camera
caffè	coffee
culla	cradle

c before e or i is like the English sound ch in chest.

Italian	English
cena	supper
voce	voice
cibo	food
concerto	concert
aceto	vinegar
cinema	cinema
cipolla	onion
facile	easy

ch (found only before e or i) is like the English k.

Italian	English
che	that
chimica	chemistry
perché	because
fichi	figs
chilo	kilo
chi	who
chiuso	closed
anche	also

d is somewhat more explosive than in English, with the tongue near the tip of the upper teeth but with no aspiration.

Italian	English
di	of
data	date
dove	where
due	two
denaro	money
dodici	twelve
donna	woman
lunedì	Monday
moda	fashion
undici	eleven

g before a, o, and u is as in the English word go.

Italian	English
gala	gala
albergo	hotel
gondola	gondola
gamba	leg
gusto	taste
fungo	mushroom
gonna	skirt
gomma	eraser
lungo	long
guanti	gloves
guidare	to drive
lingua	tongue

g before e or i is like the g in gem.

Italian	English
gelato	ice cream
angelo	angel
pagina	page
gente	people
gesso	chalk
gentile	kind
gita	outing
gennaio	January

gh (found only before e or i) is like the g in go.

Italian	English
ghetto	ghetto
funghe	escapes
laghi	lakes
maghi	magicians

gli is approximately like ll in million.

Italian	English
egli	he
meglio	better
figli	sons
famiglia	family
mogli	wives
aglio	garlic
fogli	sheets (of paper)
bottiglia	bottle

gn is approximately like ny in canyon.

Italian	English
signora	lady
lavagna	blackboard
signore	gentleman
bagno	bath
signorina	young lady
sogno	dream
lasagne	lasagna
spugna	sponge

h is silent.

Italian	English
ho	I have
hotel	hotel
ha	has
ahi!	ouch!
hanno	they have

l is as in English, but sharper and more forward in the mouth.

Italian	English
olio	oil
lingua	language
sale	salt
lungo	long
melone	melon
luna	moon
scuola	school
light	light

p is as in English, but without the aspiration that sometimes accompanies this sound in English.

Italian	English
pane	bread
patata	potato
pepe	pepper
papà	dad
popone	melon
ponte	bridge
pipa	pipe
punto	period
pasto	meal
pronuncia	pronunciation
Alpi	Alps
psicologo	psychologist

qu is always pronounced like the English qu in quest.

Italian	English
questo	this
quinto	fifth
quale	which
quarto	fourth
quanto	how much
quantità	quantity
quadro	picture
qualità	quality

r is different from the English r. it is pronounced with one flip of the tongue against the gums of the upper teeth. This is the trilled r.

Italian	English
ora	now
tenore	tenor
albergo	hotel
baritono	baritone
arte	art
orologio	watch
porta	door
sardina	sardine

s is sometimes like the English s in house.

Italian	English
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 rose.

Italian	English
rosa	rose
tesoro	treasure
frase	phrase
svelto	quick
sbaglio	mistake
esercizio	exercise
musica	music
sgridare	to scold
susina	plum
sbadato	careless

sc before a, o, or u is like sk in ask.

Italian	English
ascoltare	to listen
scuola	school
pesca	peach
tasca	pocket
toscano	Tuscan
scaloppine	cutlets
scarpa	shoe
scultura	sculpture
disco	disk. record
scopo	purpose

sc before e or i is like the English sound sh in fish.

Italian	English
finisce	finishes
sci	ski
pesce	fish
conoscere	to know
scena	scene
scendere	to descend
uscita	exit
uscio	door

sch occurs only before e or i, and is pronounced like the English sk.

Italian	English
pesche	peaches
tasche	pockets
dischi	disks. records
scheletro	skeleton
fiaschi	flasks
lische	fishbones

t is approximately the same as in English, but no escaping of breath accompanies it in Italian.

Italian	English
contento	glad
carta	paper
arte	art
matita	pencil
turista	tourist
antipasto	appetizer
telefono	telephone
testa	head

z is sometimes voiceless, like ts is bets.

Italian	English
pizza	pizza
negozio	store
marzo	March
Venezia	Venice
grazie	thank you
dizionario	dictionary

z is sometimes voiced, like ds in beds.

Italian	English
zero	zero
zebra	zebra
pranzo	lunch
zelo	zeal
romanzo	novel
zanzara	mosquito

Note:

When ci, gi, and sci are followed by a, o, or u, unless the accent falls on the i, the i is not pronounced. The letter i merely indicates that c, g, and sc are pronounced, respectively, like the English ch, g (as in gem), and sh.

Italian	English
arancia	orange
giornale	newspaper
ciliegia	cherry
ciao	so long
salsiccia	sausage
camicia	shirt
lasciare	to leave
scienza	science