Learning some languages can be tricky, especially if there is extensive vocabulary. Italian is one of the easiest languages to learn for English speakers in terms of pronunciation. One major advantage is that, unlike English and French, it is a highly phonetic language, which means that what you see written on paper is very close to how it is spoken.
You must learn to pronounce only a few difficult words correctly. If you use different words to make the essay longer, it becomes boring. The same applies to the use of words while speaking. Giving quality to your speech is essential, so you must be familiar with such words that add meaning to it.
Another advantage is that there are just seven vowel sounds in English (a, I, u, e, o, and u), two semi-consonants, and twenty-one consonants. When English speakers come across odd consonants or consonant clusters within a word, such as /ts/ (grazie), /r/ (rompere), and / (maglia), or when familiar consonants appear in unexpected places.
List of Most Difficult Words to Pronounce in Italian language
1. Ridarella
Ridarella has two rolled Rs and the double consonant /ll/, which is pronounced with a short pause between each /l/. When you try to pronounce it correctly, you can get a few laughs from your Italian friends.
2. Ghiaccio
The Italian H has an odd demeanor. It’s the phantom letter that will never be uttered unless it appears after a G or C, in which case the H will change the sound. In actuality, chi and ci are opposed: the first sounds like “key” in English, while the second is very “smooth” and pronounced like the “ch” in “chill.”
The same goes for ghi (pronounced like Guinea) and gi (smoother, as in genius). The method also works for ghe, ge, che, and ce, but the sound is always “hard” when C and G are followed by A, O, or U.
3. Arrotolare
Now we are getting into some of the more difficult-to-pronounce vocabularies. In the case of arrotolare, which means to roll up, pronouncing the /o/ immediately after the double /r/ is quite difficult. Make sure to do it the correct way.
4. Sbagliare
Don’t worry if you make a few mistakes trying to pronounce sbagliare because that’s precisely what it means! Because it begins with the uncommon word-initial consonant cluster /zb/ and contains the phoneme //, it can be difficult for English speakers to pronounce.
5. Tagliuzzare
Tagliuzzare (to snip) isn’t a term that comes up very often in conversation, which is a good thing because it’s a tongue twister, especially after a few glasses of red wine! The unpronounceable phonemes //, /dz/, and /r/ all appear.
6. Sciogliere
For a moment, disregard them! The sound of ci and ce gets considerably smoother when followed by an S, similar to sh.
7. Atterrare
With its three Rs and double /tt, atterrare (to land) is a fantastic verb to practice your pronunciation, especially if you use some of the conjugated forms like atterreremmo (we would land) or atterreranno (we would land) (they will land). Don’t expect to land on your feet on the first try.
8. Vorrei
Although the word vorrei is short, it is not easy to pronounce. Not only does the infamous rolled /r/ make an appearance, but there are two of them next to each other! Unfortunately for us, because it signifies “I would want…”, this term is frequently used in Italian.
9. Scoraggiare
Scoraggiare – which means to discourage – is tough enough to pronounce due to the rolled /r/ and double /gg/, but it also sounds suspiciously like another word with a completely different meaning: scoreggiare
10. Gnorri
The word gnorri, which always appears in the fixed phrase fare gli gnorri (to play foolish), contains the double /r/and the word initial /. For such a little word, that’s a lot of challenging consonants. You must be aware of using it in the right way.
11. Scherzo
You can have a lot of fun coming up with these phrases. The sound sc is altered once again in this case, thanks to the H that follows it (remember that spoiled little ghost?). Anyway, here’s how it works: The rough sound of ch (as in key) should be preceded by a regular S.
12. Gli
Non-Italian speakers tend to separate the two consonants, making them highly prominent. However this is incorrect. To pronounce gli properly, say Lee and try to touch your palate with the middle of your tongue rather than the tip. Once you start practicing it, it will be smoother for you to speak this word.
Conclusion
Hope you enjoy the list of hardest Italian words to pronounce! The Italian language contains several extremely difficult terms that must be practiced to be properly pronounced, or else they will appear ludicrous and change the entire context. As a result, use the preceding tips to help you improve your pronunciation. It will assist you in becoming more aware of proper word usage and how they should be used to convey your thoughts.
Nathan D'Souza
Latest posts by Nathan D'Souza (see all)
- Top Highest Paying Blockchain Jobs in 2022 - October 19, 2022
- 6 Ways to Bring Kindness into the Classroom: A Guide for Teachers - October 4, 2022
- Six Sigma Certification : What You Need to Know! - July 6, 2022