The consonants not listed below (b, f, m, n, v) are pronounced as in English. The approximate English equivalents are as follows:

　　c before a, o, and u is like the English k.

　　Italian English

　　casa house

　　fico fig

　　con with

　　Colesseo Colosseum

　　capo head

　　Cupido Cupid

　　cane dog

　　camera camera

　　caffè coffee

　　culla cradle

　　c before e or i is like the English sound ch in chest.

　　Italian English

　　cena supper

　　voce voice

　　cibo food

　　concerto concert

　　aceto vinegar

　　cinema cinema

　　cipolla onion

　　facile easy

　　ch (found only before e or i) is like the English k.

　　Italian English

　　che that

　　chimica chemistry

　　perché because

　　fichi figs

　　chilo kilo

　　chi who

　　chiuso closed

　　anche also

　　d is somewhat more explosive than in English, with the tongue near the tip of the upper teeth but with no aspiration.

　　Italian English

　　di of

　　data date

　　dove where

　　due two

　　denaro money

　　dodici twelve

　　donna woman

　　lunedì Monday

　　moda fashion

　　undici eleven

　　g before a, o, and u is as in the English word go.

　　Italian English

　　gala gala

　　albergo hotel

　　gondola gondola

　　gamba leg

　　gusto taste

　　fungo mushroom

　　gonna skirt

　　gomma eraser

　　lungo long

　　guanti gloves

　　guidare to drive

　　lingua tongue

　　g before e or i is like the g in gem.

　　Italian English

　　gelato ice cream

　　angelo angel

　　pagina page

　　gente people

　　gesso chalk

　　gentile kind

　　gita outing

　　gennaio January

　　gh (found only before e or i) is like the g in go.

　　Italian English

　　ghetto ghetto

　　funghe escapes

　　laghi lakes

　　maghi magicians

　　gli is approximately like ll in million.

　　Italian English

　　egli he

　　meglio better

　　figli sons

　　famiglia family

　　mogli wives

　　aglio garlic

　　fogli sheets (of paper)

　　bottiglia bottle

　　gn is approximately like ny in canyon.

　　Italian English

　　signora lady

　　lavagna blackboard

　　signore gentleman

　　bagno bath

　　signorina young lady

　　sogno dream

　　lasagne lasagna

　　spugna sponge

　　h is silent.

　　Italian English

　　ho I have

　　hotel hotel

　　ha has

　　ahi! ouch!

　　hanno they have

　　l is as in English, but sharper and more forward in the mouth.

　　Italian English

　　olio oil

　　lingua language

　　sale salt

　　lungo long

　　melone melon

　　luna moon

　　scuola school

　　light light