How to pronounce Italian
Say it like it-AL-yun. Italian has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Italian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- it
- AL
- yun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Italian pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- itGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- yunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Italian
American and British speakers say Italian in essentially the same way: /ˌɪˈtæljən/ in the US and /ɪˈtæljən/ in the UK.
British respelling: ih-TAL-yun.
What does Italian mean?
- of or pertaining to or characteristic of Italy or its people or culture or language“Italian cooking”
- a native or inhabitant of Italy
- the Romance language spoken in Italy
Words that rhyme with Italian
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Italian.
Questions about saying Italian
How do you pronounce Italian?
Say it-AL-yun. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪˈtæljən/. In British English it is /ɪˈtæljən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Italian?
Italian has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AL). Broken into parts: it · AL · yun.
Do Americans and Brits say Italian the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪˈtæljən/ and the British form is /ɪˈtæljən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.