A1 · Alphabet and pronunciation
Double consonants, gli and gn
A double letter really is longer — and makes a different word.
A double consonant in Italian is *held longer*, about twice as long. English spelling doubles letters too, but in hopping or dinner the double letter only tells you about the vowel in front; the consonant itself is no longer. English does have the long sound, though, just across two words: the k in bookcase, the d in midday, the n in ten names. That is Italian nonno. And here the length changes the word: nono (ninth) and nonno (grandfather), sete (thirst) and sette (seven), caro (dear) and carro (cart).
gli is a single sound, close to the lli in million, with the middle of the tongue against the roof of the mouth: figlio, famiglia, moglie. There is no g to be heard in it.
gn is also a single sound, the ny of canyon or the ni of onion: montagna, bagno, gnocchi. Again no g, and it does not split into two syllables.
Three smaller differences from English. z sounds like the ts of cats or the ds of adds: pizza, zero. r is made with the tip of the tongue, flapped once as in the tt of American butter, or rolled for longer at the start of a word and when doubled: Roma, treno, birra. And it is always pronounced, including before a consonant and at the end, where British English drops it.
The form
| ninth — grandfather | nono — nonno |
| thirst — seven | sete — sette |
| dear — cart | caro — carro |
| lli as in million | figlio, famiglia |
| ny as in canyon | montagna, gnocchi |
| ts or ds | pizza, zero |
| a rolled or tapped r | Roma, treno |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
A double consonant is really held longer.
Il mio nonno abita al nono piano.My grandfather lives on the ninth floor.
gli is a single sound, like the lli in million.
Mia figlia ha due figli.My daughter has two children.
gn is a single sound, like the ny in canyon.
D’estate andiamo in montagna.In summer we go to the mountains.
The r is made with the tip of the tongue.
Il treno per Roma è in ritardo.The train to Rome is late.
How to spot it
- tt
- nn
- ll
- gli
- gn
- zz
Example sentences
Ho sete: alle sette bevo un tè.I'm thirsty: at seven I drink a cup of tea.
Una pizza e una birra, per favore.A pizza and a beer, please.
La mia famiglia abita a Bologna.My family lives in Bologna.
Stasera ho sonno: vado a letto presto.I'm sleepy tonight: I'm going to bed early.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
Because English never holds a consonant longer inside a word, English speakers say Italian doubles as single ones — and then write them that way. On the way, a grandfather turns into a number: nonnois your grandfathernonomeans ninth Hold the consonant audibly, as in the middle of bookcase, and you will also know it is double when you write it.
Written double means said twice as long.
Your turn
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