Lessons for English speakers

Learn to read Italian

A short, active path into reading Italian: decode real words from a small sound guide, learn where the endings and the verb sit, meet the past that fables are printed in, and read a whole fable before opening your first book.

13 core sections · ≈ 32 min + 3 optional lookups · ≈ 48 min with everything

Read eight real words from a small sound guide

≈ 2 min

What you'll learn

The guide below contains only the sounds these eight words need.
Each hint supplies the one thing the spelling does not show — guided reading, not a test from nothing.
These eight words come back all the way to the last reading.

Only the sounds these words need

On the page	Sound to try
a e i o u	one sound each, and the last one is said too
c before a, o, u	k
c before e, i	the ch of church
g before a, o, u	g as in go
gli	the lli of million
sc before a, o, u	sk
s between two vowels	the z of rose
a doubled letter	held: stop on it, then finish the word
r	tapped once behind the top teeth, never the English r
b l n p t v	as in English

Everything else behaves the way an English reader expects. Work left to right and say the last letter.

Eight words for the first story

Use the guide and the hint. Say the whole word aloud, then reveal.

casa
c is hard before a, and the s sits between two vowels.
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casaKAH-zah“house”
cane
The final e is said.
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caneKAH-neh“dog”
gatto
Hold the double t.
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gattoGAHT-toh“cat”
volpe
Two pieces; lean on the first.
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volpeVOHL-peh“fox”
uccello
cc before an e is the ch of church — and held.
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uccellooot-CHEHL-loh“bird”
coniglio
gli is the lli of million.
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conigliokoh-NEE-lyoh“rabbit”
albero
This one leans further back than you expect: AL-be-ro.
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alberoAHL-beh-roh“tree”
bosco
sc before an o is sk.
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boscoBOH-skoh“wood”