How to Read Any Italian Word | Part 4: gn, gli, sci, sce, s, Double Consonants
🎧 gn, gli, schi, sche, sci, sce, s, double consonants
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Let’s have a look at the last part of the Italian pronunciation!
📚 Italian Pronunciation Series — complete guide:
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: The letter C
Part 3: The letter G
Part 4: gn, gli, sci, double consonants ← you are here
Part 5: Revision & Practice
🔎 Get a ready-to-use cheat sheet here:
Previous parts:
🗣️ gn /ɲ/
In Italian, gn is pronounced as /ɲ/. For example, in gnocchi. It’s similar to the English sounds: onion, canyon.
✅ Esercizio 1
🗣️ Leggiamo.
Don’t think about the meaning of these words, try to read them:
gnocchi, Spagna, lasagna, signora, bagno, Bologna.
Listen and control:
🗣️ gli /ʎ/
Gli is pronounced like the middle "lli" in English words: million or brilliant.
If you see "gl" followed by other letters (like in gladiatore), you just pronounce it like a normal English "G" + "L".
✅ Esercizio 2
🗣️ Leggiamo.
Don’t think about the meaning of these words, try to read them:
tagliatelle, famiglia, figlio, voglia, aglio, coniglio, biglietto, moglie, consiglio, bottiglia.
Listen and control:
🗣️ sci, sce, schi, sche
❗ Remember:
sci - like in the English word she - /ʃi/ - sciare
sce - like in the English word shell - /ʃe/ - pesce
schi - like in the English word skiing - /ski/ - schiena
sche - like in the English word sketch - /ske/ - schema
✅ Esercizio 3
🗣️ Leggiamo.
Don’t think about the meaning of these words, try to read them:
sciare, pesce, schiena, schema, scivolare, schermo, pesci, maschera, sceriffo, schiaffo, scenografia, sciroppo, scheletro, uscite, scherzo, ascensore, schiuma, scena, fischio.
Listen and control:
🗣️ s
Case 1: The Sharp S: Unvoiced /s/
This sounds exactly like the English word “sun” or “bus”. Use it:
At the start of a word followed by a vowel: sole, sera
When it is doubled (ss): rosso, passo
Followed by a “hard” consonant (f, p, t, c): studio, sport
Case 2: The Buzzing S: Voiced /z/
This sounds like the English word “zebra” or “easy”. It feels like a vibration in your throat. Use it:
Between two vowels (the most common rule): casa, isola, musica
Followed by a “soft/voiced” consonant (b, d, g, l, m, n, r, v): sbaglio, svelto, smettere, sgabello.
✅ Esercizio 4
🗣️ Leggiamo.
Don’t think about the meaning of these words, try to read them:
sole, casa, studio, isola, rosso, sbaglio, sera, musica, sport, svelto, passo, viso, smettere, sale, sbadigliare, borsa, riso, frase, tazza, spaghetti
Listen and control:
🗣️ Double consonants: cc, ff, gg, ll, mm, nn, rr, tt, zz
In Italian, double consonants (doppie) aren’t just a spelling rule—they are a rhythmic instruction. If you ignore them, you might change the meaning of the word entirely. Pronounce them double: elongated and intense.
✅ Esercizio 5
🗣️ Leggiamo.
Don’t think about the meaning of these words, try to read them:
bocca, caffè, viaggio, ballo, mamma, nonna, birra, gatto, pizza, tazza, fratello, macchina, offrire, occhiali, pennello, terra, zucchero, scommessa, cappuccio, corretto
Listen and control:
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