Learn A Language

Italian Part One

Note: I decided to sort and teach in another way because I think this way is easier to learn and I might go back to the Swedish lesson and change the format to match this one... Continue on.

The Italian language is spoken mainly in Italy, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Croatia. About 60 million people can speak this language. This language first appeared in the tenth century.

Lesson One: The Italian Alphabet

A: The letter 'a' is pronounced as the English letter 'a' in the word 'car'

B: The letter 'b' is pronounced the same as the English letter.

C: When the letter 'c' is in front of the letters 'i' or 'e' it sounds like the 'tch' in the word 'catch'

The 'k' sound of the letter 'c' is used only when followed by any consonant and the vowels a, u, or o.

D: The letter 'd' is pronounced the same as the letter 'd' in the word 'dodge'

E: This letter is pronounced the same as in the word 'trainer'

F: Is pronounced the same as 'ph'

G: The 'j' sound is implied when the next letter is 'c' and that 'c' is followed by 'i' or 'e'

The 'g' sound is used when followed by any consonant or the vowels a, u, or o.

H: The Italian 'h' is almost always silent. It's purpose is to define the letters 'c' and 'g'

I: The 'i' sound in Italian sounds like the 'ee' in the English word 'creed' except it is slightly shorter.

J: Sounds exactly like the English 'j'. Used in foreign words mainly.

K: Sounds exactly like the English 'k'. Used for foreign words.

L: Sounds exactly like the English 'l'

M: Sounds exactly like the English 'm'

N: Sounds exactly like the English 'n'

O: Sounds like the 'ou' in the word 'course'

P: Sounds exactly like the English 'p'

Q: Always followed by the letter 'u'. Pronounced as the letter 'k'

R: Pronounced by touching the tip of the tongue to the top of the mouth.

S: Always pronounced soft. Never pronounced as 'ts' as in 'pets'

T: Sounds exactly like the English 't'

U: Identical to the 'oo' in 'ooze'

V:Sounds exactly like the English 'v'

W:Sounds exactly like the English 'w'

X:Sounds exactly like the English 'x'

Y:Sounds exactly like the English 'y'

Z: Identical to the 'ts' in 'cats'