The Italian alphabet is straightforward. It uses the same Latin script as English but only has 21 native letters. The letters J, K, W, X, and Y are not part of the traditional alphabet, but you'll see them in words borrowed from other languages, like jeans or weekend.

Each letter has a name, which is important to learn for spelling things out loud. Notice how the names are just the letter's sound, usually followed by the vowel sound of the letter itself.

Italian has five vowels: A, E, I, O, U. Unlike English, these vowels have consistent, pure sounds. They are always pronounced clearly and are never slurred or reduced. Think of them as short, sharp sounds.

Most Italian consonants sound similar to their English counterparts. However, a few change their sound depending on the letters that follow them. The letters C and G are the most important ones to learn.

The letters C and G have both a "hard" sound (like 'k' and 'g' in go) and a "soft" sound (like 'ch' in cheese and 'j' in gem). The vowel that follows determines the sound.

What if you want a hard 'k' or 'g' sound before an E or an I? You add an 'H'. The 'H' is always silent in Italian; its only job is to change the sound of the consonant before it.

A few other consonant combinations create unique sounds you won't find in English.

One final key to Italian pronunciation is the use of double consonants, like 'tt' in notte or 'zz' in pizza. When you see a double consonant, you hold the sound for slightly longer. This distinction is important and can change the meaning of a word.

Similarly, caro means 'dear', but carro means 'cart'. Getting these double consonants right is a big step toward sounding more natural.

Ready to test your knowledge? Let's see how well you've grasped these fundamental sounds.

Mastering these sounds is your first big step. The best way to improve is to listen to native speakers and practice saying the words out loud. Don't be afraid to sound it out!