Consonants

z=ts/dz

• zero  pizza  mezzo-soprano zebra 

c followed by e or i= ch

•     cello ciao Cinzano cappucino

g followed by e or i=j

•     geloso geografia giusto

ch=k

•     Chianti chilo Machiavelli bruschetta

gh=g

•     ghetto ghinea

gli=ly (eg 'Paul Young')

•     tagliatelli bottiglia 

gn=ny

•     signora magnifico gnocchi

sci=sh/shee

•     scienza sci

Where there is a double consonant, both consonants are pronounced.

•     donna cello

The letters 'k' and 'j' do not exist in the Italian alphabet and are found only in foreign words

•     karate jazz

'h' is silent (not pronounced)

•     hai ha ahora

'r' is rolled, with the tongue at the front of the mouth
 

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Vowels

Each vowel has only one sound, although 'e' and 'o' can be open or closed according to their position
a: as in 'car' but slightly shorter

•     camera sala

e: like ai in 'said'

•     letto mela

i: like 'ee' in feet

•     vino  cappucino

 o: like 'o' in dog

•     posta sotto

u: like 'oo' in boot, but rounder

•     luna cura

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Stress

The stress in Italian falls on the syllable before last. There are some exceptions, particularly with verbs in the third person plural. Where a vowel has an accent over it, this indicates that the stress is on this syllable. Otherwise, exceptions need to be learnt as words are met. Stress marks for irregular words are shown in most dictionaries