Chapter: Alphabet, Pronunciation, and Articles in Italian

Introduction

In this chapter, we explore the Italian articles in depth, learn about the alphabet and pronunciation, and engage in various exercises to solidify our understanding of these topics. The focus will be on definite and indefinite articles, pluralization, and the pronunciation of letters, especially in foreign words.

1. The Italian Alphabet and Pronunciation

The Italian alphabet consists of 21 letters, with some letters having specific pronunciation rules. Below is a guide to pronunciation, including the sounds of each letter and some key rules for foreign words:

Letter

Pronunciation

Examples

B/b

/b/

Bene (good)

C/c

/k/ before a, o, u
/tʃ/ before e, i
/ʃ/ before ce, ci
/k/ when CH (chi, che)

Casa (house), Ciao (hi), Città (city), ceci (cheakpeas), Chiave (key)

D/d

/d/

Dove (where)

E/e

/e/

Esempio (example)

F/f

/f/

Fior (flower)

G/g

/ɡ/ before a, o, u
/dʒ/ before e, i
/ʃ/ before ge, gi
/ɡ/ when GH (ghi, ghe)

Gatto (cat), Giornale (newspaper), Gelato (icecream), ghiaccio (ice)

H/h

Silent
when combined with C makes /k/; when combined with G makes /ɡ/

Hotel (hotel, io Ho, tu Hai, lui/lei Ha, loro Hanno
LaGHI (lakes), amiCHE (girlfriends)

I/i

/i/

Italia (Italy)

L/l

/l/

Libro (book)

M/m

/m/

Mare (sea)

N/n

/n/

Nave (ship)

O/o

/o/

Oro (gold)

P/p

/p/

Pane (bread)

Q/q

/kw/

Quadro (painting)

R/r

/r/

Ristorante (restaurant)

S/s

/s/ (voiceless) before vowels, when SS
/z/ (voiced)
between vowels:

Sole (sun), Sera (evening), caSa (house), caSSa (cashier)

T/t

/t/

Tempo (time)

U/u

/u/

Uomo (man)

V/v

/v/

Vino (wine)

Z/z

/dz/ between voewels
/ts/ before vowels

Zaino (backpack), Zero (zero)

Here’s the explanation with the IPA phonetic symbols for voiced and voiceless “s” sounds in Italian, plus the complete rule and exercises.

In Italian:

• The voiceless “s” sound is represented by /s/ (like the “s” in English sun).
• The voiced “s” sound is represented by /z/ (like the “z” in English zone).

Italian Pronunciation Rule for the Letter “S” in Intervocalic Position

The pronunciation of “s” in Italian often depends on its placement in the word, particularly when it appears between vowels (intervocalic position). This placement influences whether the “s” is pronounced as voiced /z/ or voiceless /s/.

General Pronunciation Rules for “S”

1. Intervocalic (Between Vowels) “S”:
   • In many common Italian words, when “s” is between vowels, it is pronounced as voiced /z/.
   • Example words include: casa /ˈka.za/ (house), naso /ˈna.zo/ (nose), cosa /ˈko.za/ (thing), così /koˈzi/ (so), and riso /ˈri.zo/ (rice or laughter).
2. Consistent Voiceless “S” Sounds: The voiceless /s/ sound appears in specific lexical and morphological patterns:
   • Compound Words where “s” is the initial letter of the second component:
     • Examples: girasole /dʒi.raˈso.le/ (sunflower), disotto /diˈsot.to/ (underneath), trasecolare /tra.se.koˈla.re/ (to be amazed).
   • Words Ending in -ese (often nationalities) and their derivatives:
     • Examples: cinese /tʃiˈne.se/ (Chinese), marsigliese /mar.siʎˈʎe.ze/ (Marseillaise).
   • Past Participles and Related Adjectives with -esi, -ese, -eso, as well as -osi, -ose, -oso endings:
     • Examples: steso /ˈste.zo/ (laid down), roso /ˈro.so/ (gnawed), chiuso /ˈkju.zo/ (closed).
   • Suffixes in -oso and -osa, commonly found in adjectives and nouns:
     • Examples: vanitoso /va.niˈto.so/ (vain), ventosa /venˈto.sa/ (windy).

Summary Table with IPA for Pronunciation of “S” in Intervocalic Position

Pattern

Example Word

Translation

IPA

Pronunciation

Intervocalic (Common Words)

casa

house

/ˈka.za/

Voiced /z/

riso

rice

/ˈri.zo/

Voiced /z/

cosa

thing

/ˈko.za/

Voiced /z/

Compound Word

girasole

sunflower

/dʒi.raˈso.le/

Voiceless /s/

-ese Suffix

cinese

Chinese

/tʃiˈne.se/

Voiceless /s/

Past Participle -oso Ending

chiuso

closed

/ˈkju.zo/

Voiceless /s/

-oso Suffix in Adjectives

ventosa

windy

/venˈto.sa/

Voiceless /s/

Exercises

1. Identify Pronunciation: Read each word below and indicate if the “s” is pronounced voiced (/z/) or voiceless (/s/):
   • Words: casa /ˈka.za/, trasecolare /tra.se.koˈla.re/, disotto /diˈsot.to/, pretesa /preˈte.za/, naso /ˈna.zo/, cinese /tʃiˈne.se/
2. Translate and Phoneticize: Translate the following sentences into English, then provide the IPA for each Italian word:
   • a) La casa è vicino alla scuola.
   • b) Vorrei comprare della spesa.
   • c) Il vento è molto ventoso oggi.
   • d) Ho riso molto quando ho visto il film.
   • e) Andiamo a girasole per vedere i campi di girasoli.
3. Fill in the Blanks: Complete each sentence with the correct word, and identify the /z/ or /s/ sound for “s.”
   • a) Ho comprato una nuova _______ (casa / naso).
   • b) Mi piace ascoltare il _______ (riso / steso) dei bambini.
   • c) Andiamo a fare una _______ (spesa / chiuso) al mercato.
   • d) La mia amica ha una personalità molto _______ (ventosa / vanitosa).
   • e) Ho _______ (steso / chiuso) le mie carte sul tavolo.

Cases Where “S” Has a Voiced Sound

In many standard Italian words, the intervocalic “s” is voiced. This pattern is particularly consistent in commonly used words and gives a softer, more fluid pronunciation.

Examples:

• casa (house)
• riso (rice or laughter)
• naso (nose)
• asino (donkey)
• spesa (shopping or expense)
• resa (surrender)
• offesa (offense)
• difesa (defense)
• pretesa (demand)
• cosa (thing)
• così (so)

Practice Exercises

1. Identify Pronunciation: Read the following words and determine if the “s” should be voiced or voiceless.
   • Words: cinese, naso, roso, casa, ventosa, disotto, pretesa, riso, offesa, trasecolare
2. Translation Practice: Translate the following sentences into English, focusing on the correct pronunciation of “s” based on the guidelines:
   • a) La casa è vicino alla scuola.
   • b) Voglio comprare della spesa.
   • c) Il vento è molto ventoso oggi.
   • d) Ho riso molto quando ho visto il film.
   • e) Vorrei andare a girasole per vedere i campi di girasoli.
3. Fill in the Blanks: Choose the correct word to complete each sentence, ensuring you apply the pronunciation rule for “s.”
   • a) Ho comprato una nuova ______ (casa/naso).
   • b) Mi piace ascoltare il ______ (riso/riso) dei bambini.
   • c) Andiamo a fare una ______ (spesa/steso) al mercato.
   • d) Mi piace la mia amica, ha una personalità molto ______ (ventosa/vanitosa).
   • e) Ho ______ (steso/reso) le mie carte sul tavolo.

Exercise 1: Pronunciation Practice Pronounce the following words and identify the letter sounds:

• Casa (house) - Pronounce the C.
• Città (city) - Pronounce the C.
• Gatto (cat) - Pronounce the G.
• Gelato (ice cream) - Pronounce the G.

Exercise 2: Alphabet Quiz Match the Italian letter with its pronunciation and example:

• H - a. /v/
• Q - b. /kw/
• S - c. Silent
• V - d. /s/

1B. Pronunciation of Specific Letter Combinations

Certain Italian letter combinations have unique pronunciations. Here’s a guide to these combinations:

Combination

Pronunciation

Examples

CI/CE

/tʃ/

Città (city), Cena (dinner)

GI/GE

/dʒ/

Giornale (newspaper), Gelato (ice cream)

SCI/SCE

/ʃ/

Scena (scene), Schemi (schemes)

CA/CO/CU

/k/

Casa (house), Colore (color), Cucina (kitchen)

GA/GO/GU

/ɡ/

Gatto (cat), Gola (throat), Gustoso (tasty)

SCO/SCA/SCU

/sk/

Scolaro (student), Scala (stairs), Scuola (school)

CHI/CHE

/ki/

Chiesa (church), Che (what)

GHI/GHE

/ɡi/

Ghiaccio (ice), Gheriglio (nut)

SCHI/SCHE

/ski/

Schiena (back), Scheda (card)

Examples:

• FACCIA » FACE
• LACCA » HAIRSPRAY
• SCHIENA » BODY PART, BACK
• SCENA » SCENE
• SCHEMA » SCHEME
• GLI SCI » THE SKIS

Exercise 3: Pronunciation Practice Pronounce the following words and identify the letter combinations:

• FACCIA
• LACCA
• SCHIENA
• SCENA
• SCHEMA

2. Definite Articles (Articoli Determinativi)

Definite articles specify particular nouns and must agree in gender and number. Here’s a detailed table:

Article

Used With

Examples

La

Feminine Singular

La lingua italiana (The Italian language)

Il

Masculine Singular

Il libro (The book)

L’

Masculine and Feminine Singular (before vowels)

L’amico (The (boy) friend), L’amica (The (girl) friend)

Lo

Masculine Singular (before “s + consonant,” “z,” “gn,” “ps”)

Lo stadio (The stadium)

I

Masculine Plural

I libri (The books)

Gli

Masculine Plural (before vowels, “s + consonant,” “z,” “gn,” “ps”)

Gli amici (The friends)

Le

Feminine Plural

Le lingue (The languages)

Why “Lo” and “La” with Vowels Require Apostrophes: In Italian, “lo” and “la” cannot stay together with vowels, so they are contracted to “l’” to avoid awkward pronunciation. For instance, “lo amico” becomes “l’amico,” and “la amica” becomes “l’amica.” This contraction ensures smoother pronunciation and readability.

Exercise 3: Matching Definite Articles Match the definite articles with the correct nouns:

• La _____ (lingua, f.s.)
• Il _____ (libro, m.s.)
• Gli _____ (amici, m.pl.)
• Le _____ (scuole, f.pl.)

Exercise 4: Fill in the Gaps Complete the sentences with the correct definite article:

• _____ albero è alto. (The tree is tall.)
• _____ amici sono simpatici. (The friends are nice.)
• _____ casa è grande. (The house is big.)
• _____ sport è divertente. (The sport is fun.)

3. Indefinite Articles (Articoli Indeterminativi)

Indefinite articles refer to non-specific nouns and vary with gender and number:

Article

Used With

Examples

Un

Masculine Singular

Un libro (A book)

Una

Feminine Singular

Una lingua (A language)

Un’

Feminine Singular (before vowels)

Un’amica (A (girl) friend)

Uno

Masculine Singular (before “s + consonant,” “z,” “gn,” “ps”)

Uno stadio (A stadium)

Exercise 5: Complete the Sentences Insert the correct indefinite article:

• Ho visto _____ film. (I saw a film.)
• Ho bisogno di _____ amica. (I need a friend.)
• C’è _____ stadio in città. (There is a stadium in the city.)
• Voglio comprare _____ matita. (I want to buy a pencil.)

Exercise 6: Article Identification Identify whether the sentences use a definite or indefinite article:

• Ho mangiato un gelato. (I ate an ice cream.)
• La pizza è deliziosa. (The pizza is delicious.)
• Vedo gli studenti. (I see the students.)
• Una macchina è parcheggiata qui. (A car is parked here.)

4. Articoli Partitivi (Partitive Articles) in Italian

In Italian, articoli partitivi (partitive articles) are used to express an indefinite quantity or some of something. They can be translated as “some” or “any” in English and are formed by combining the preposition di (of) with a definite article. (read Mastering Italian Prepositions – Le Preposizioni)

Formation of Partitive Articles:

Singular

Masculine

Feminine

Some/Any (singular)

del (di + il)

della (di + la)

dell’ (di + l')

dell’ (di + l')

Plural

Masculine

Feminine

Some/Any (plural)

dei (di + i)

delle (di + le)

degli (di + gli)

Usage of Articoli Partitivi:

1. For unspecified amounts: Use partitive articles when referring to an undefined quantity of something, similar to “some” or “any” in English.
   • Example: Vorrei del pane (I would like some bread)
   • Example: Hai delle mele? (Do you have any apples?)
   • Ho preso dello zucchero (I grabbed some sugar)
2. For non-countable nouns: Partitive articles are often used with non-countable nouns (such as food, liquids, abstract things).
   • Example: Ho bevuto del vino (I drank some wine)
   • Example: C’è dell’acqua sul tavolo (There is some water on the table)
   • Faccio dei compiti (I do some homework)
   • Bevo del vino e dell’acqua. Lei beve un bicchiere di succo d’arancia (I drink some wine and some water. She drinks a glass of orange juice)
   • il succo d’arancia di Maria e’ arancione (Maria’s orange juice is orange)
   • il succo di mela e’ buono (apple juice is good)
   • una storia d’amore - a love story
3. Omission of the partitive: In informal speech, partitive articles are sometimes omitted, especially when referring to plural nouns.
   • Example: Mangio biscotti (I eat some cookies) vs. Mangio dei biscotti (I eat some cookies)
   • Non ho problemi - non ho dei problemi (I don’t have any issue)

Summary:

• del, della, dell’, dei, degli, and delle are used to indicate “some” or “any.”
• They can be used with non-countable nouns and when referring to an indefinite quantity of something.
• They often translate to “some” in English, but their use is more frequent in Italian.

The Preposition “Di” and Its Compound Forms

Structure: Preposizioni Articolate (Prepositional Contractions)

In Italian, preposizioni articolate are formed when a preposition combines with a definite article. For “di”, here’s how it combines with different articles:

di + Article

Combined Form

di + il

del

di + lo

dello

di + l’

dell’

di + i

dei

di + gli

degli

di + la

della

di + le

delle

Uses of “Di”

The preposition “di” is highly versatile in Italian and has several key uses. Here’s how it functions in different contexts:

1) Indicating Possession or Belonging

• “Di” is often used to show possession or association and translates to “of”.
• Examples:
  • il rumore del mare (the sound of the sea)
  • la palla dei cani (the dogs’ ball)

2) Indicating Origin or Source

• “Di” can indicate where someone or something is from, translating to “from”.
• Example:
  • Maria è di Roma. (Maria is from Rome.)

3) Describing Characteristics or Material

• “Di” is used to describe what something is made of or its characteristics.
• Examples:
  • una scultura di marmo (a marble sculpture)
  • una ragazza di talento (a talented girl)

4) Expressing Partitive Articles (Articoli Partitivi)

• Articoli partitivi express an indefinite quantity, equivalent to “some” or “any” in English.
• Examples:
  • Vorrei dello zucchero. (I would like some sugar.)
  • Ho comprato delle mele. (I bought some apples.)

Translation of Example Sentences

Possession Examples (Di as “Of”)

1. Il rumore del mare – The sound of the sea
2. Le persone dello stadio – The people from the stadium
3. La foglia dell’albero – The leaf of the tree
4. Il quaderno della ragazza – The girl’s notebook
5. Il libro dell’amica – The friend’s book
6. La palla dei cani – The dogs’ ball
7. La piramide degli Egizi – The pyramid of the Egyptians
8. Il viaggio delle studentesse – The students’ trip

Partitive Articles Examples (Di as “Some”)

1. Ho mangiato del pane – I ate some bread
2. Vorrei dello zucchero – I would like some sugar
3. Posso avere dell’acqua? – Can I have some water?
4. La torta con della panna – The cake with some cream
5. Il tè con dell’anice – The tea with some anise
6. Questi sono dei quaderni – These are some notebooks
7. Degli studenti vanno a scuola – Some students go to school
8. Ho comprato delle mele – I bought some apples

Grammar Tables: “Di” in Prepositional Contractions and Partitive Articles

Prepositional Contractions (Possession, Origin, etc.)

Italian (di + article)

Combined Form

English Translation

di + il

del

of the (masculine singular)

di + lo

dello

of the (masculine singular, before “z” or “s+consonant”)

di + l’

dell’

of the (masculine or feminine singular, before vowels)

di + i

dei

of the (masculine plural)

di + gli

degli

of the (masculine plural, before “z” or “s+consonant”)

di + la

della

of the (feminine singular)

di + le

delle

of the (feminine plural)

Partitive Articles (Expressing Indefinite Quantity)

Italian (di + article)

Partitive Form

English Translation

di + il

del

some (masculine singular)

di + lo

dello

some (masculine singular, before “z” or “s+consonant”)

di + l’

dell’

some (masculine or feminine singular, before vowels)

di + i

dei

some (masculine plural)

di + gli

degli

some (masculine plural, before “z” or “s+consonant”)

di + la

della

some (feminine singular)

di + le

delle

some (feminine plural)

Exercises

1) Translate the Following Phrases into Italian Using “Di” for Possession or Partitive Articles

1. The taste of the coffee.
2. I bought some flowers.
3. She has a friend from Milan.
4. The strength of the wind.
5. I need some time.

2) Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Compound Form of “Di”

1. Il sapore ___ cioccolato è delizioso. (The taste of chocolate is delicious.)
2. Ho bisogno ___ acqua. (I need some water.)
3. Questi sono ___ amici di Maria. (These are some friends of Maria.)
4. Abbiamo comprato ___ libri interessanti. (We bought some interesting books.)
5. Hai visto ___ ragazzo? (Have you seen the boy?)

Answers to Exercises

1) Translate the Following Phrases

1. Il sapore del caffè.
2. Ho comprato dei fiori.
3. Ha un amico di Milano.
4. La forza del vento.
5. Ho bisogno di tempo.

2) Fill in the Blanks

1. del – Il sapore del cioccolato è delizioso.
2. dell’ – Ho bisogno dell’acqua.
3. degli – Questi sono degli amici di Maria.
4. dei – Abbiamo comprato dei libri interessanti.
5. del – Hai visto del ragazzo?

This lesson equips learners with a solid foundation in using “di” and its compound forms in Italian, providing structured explanations, examples, and practice exercises. Perfect for BYB (Build Your Best) learners!

Exercises: Articoli Partitivi

1. Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Partitive Article:

(Use del, della, dell’, dei, degli, delle)

a. Vorrei ______ pane per favore.
b. Ci sono ______ studenti in classe.
c. Hai ______ acqua?
d. Stasera mangerò ______ pasta.
e. Hai comprato ______ uova al supermercato?
f. C’è ______ vino rosso in frigo.

2. Translate the following sentences into Italian:

a. I want some apples.
b. Do you have any sugar?
c. There is some milk on the table.
d. We need some books for the class.
e. They ate some pizza at the party.

3. True or False: Decide if the following sentences correctly use the partitive articles.

a. Ho visto degli amici ieri.
b. Hai delle acqua?
c. Vorrei delle mele, per favore.
d. Ci sono del studenti nel parco.
e. Ho mangiato dell’uva.

Answers and Explanation:

1. Fill in the Blanks:

a. del (Vorrei del pane per favore.)
b. degli (Ci sono degli studenti in classe.)
c. dell’ (Hai dell’ acqua?)
d. della (Stasera mangerò della pasta.)
e. delle (Hai comprato delle uova al supermercato?)
f. del (C’è del vino rosso in frigo.)

2. Translations:

a. Voglio delle mele.
b. Hai dello zucchero?
c. C’è del latte sul tavolo.
d. Abbiamo bisogno di dei libri per la lezione.
e. Hanno mangiato della pizza alla festa.

3. True or False:

a. True (Ho visto degli amici ieri.)
b. False (It should be “Hai dell’ acqua?”)
c. True (Vorrei delle mele, per favore.)
d. False (It should be “Ci sono degli studenti nel parco.”)
e. True (Ho mangiato dell’ uva.)

5. Plural Forms of Nouns

To form plurals in Italian, follow these rules:

Singular

Plural

Examples

Masculine -o

-i

Il libro → I libri (The books)

Feminine -a

-e

La lingua → Le lingue (The languages)

Ending in -e

-i

Il fiore → I fiori (The flowers)

Exercise 7: Singular to Plural Conversion Convert the singular nouns to their plural forms:

• Il gatto (The cat) → _____
• La casa (The house) → _____
• Il fiume (The river) → _____
• La madre (The mother) → _____

Exercise 8: Fill in the Blanks Complete the sentences with the plural form of the nouns:

• Vedo _____ (albero) nel parco. (I see trees in the park.)
• Compriamo _____ (scarpa) nuove. (We are buying new shoes.)
• _____ (professore) sono in aula. (The teachers are in the classroom.)
• Non ho _____ (idea). (I have no ideas.)

5. Additional Activities

Activity 1: Article Identification and Usage Write a short paragraph describing your daily routine, using both definite and indefinite articles. Identify and highlight the articles used.

Activity 2: Pronunciation Drills Record yourself reading a list of Italian words and listen for the correct pronunciation of letters. Compare your pronunciation with native speakers.

Activity 3: Article Matching Game Create flashcards with nouns and their articles. Shuffle the cards and try to match them correctly.

Conclusion

In this chapter, we’ve covered the essential elements of Italian articles, including both definite and indefinite forms, and explored the rules for pluralization. We also delved into the Italian alphabet and pronunciation to provide a solid foundation for understanding and using articles correctly.

Mastering these aspects is crucial for constructing accurate and meaningful sentences in Italian. By familiarizing yourself with the nuances of articles and practicing the pronunciation of each letter, you will enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Italian. Regular practice with exercises and activities will reinforce your knowledge and help you become more confident in using the language.

Continue to engage with the material through exercises and real-life practice to solidify your understanding. Remember, the more you use the language, the more natural it will become. Buona fortuna e buon studio!