How do you read ABC in Italian?
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Italian for Beginners 🇮🇹
Start your Italian journey by learning the alphabet and its sounds.
How do you read ABC in Italian?
The letters for ABC in Italian are: A (a), B (bi), and C (ci).
Did you know?
Italian uses a modern form of the Latin alphabet with only 21 letters. The letters J, K, W, X, Y do not officially exist in Italian, but you may still see them in foreign words, brand names, acronyms, and car plates.
Italian uses a modern form of the Latin alphabet with only 21 letters. The letters J, K, W, X, Y do not officially exist in Italian, but you may still see them in foreign words, brand names, acronyms, and car plates.
The Italian Alphabet (21 Letters)
| Letter | Name & Sound | In Action |
|---|---|---|
| A | a (ah) | anello (ring) |
| B | bi (bee) | banana |
| C | ci (chee) | cena (dinner) |
| D | di (dee) | donna (woman) |
| E | e (eh) | energia |
| F | effe (ehf-feh) | formaggio (cheese) |
| G | gi (jee) | gatto / gatta (cat) |
| H | acca (ahk-kah) | hotel |
| I | i (ee) | italiano |
| L | elle (ehl-leh) | latte (milk) |
| M | emme (ehm-meh) | medico |
| N | enne (ehn-neh) | negozio |
| O | o (oh) | orologio (clock) |
| P | pi (pee) | pesce (fish) |
| Q | cu (koo) | quando (when) |
| R | erre (ehr-reh) | respirare |
| S | esse (ehs-seh) | studente / studentessa |
| T | ti (tee) | torta (cake) |
| U | u (oo) | uccello (bird) |
| V | vi (vee) | vino (wine) |
| Z | zeta (tseh-tah) | zero |
The Letter G: Hard vs Soft Sounds
Hard G sound (like “gate”)
Used when G is followed by a, o, u, gh + e/i
Examples: spaghetti, gusto
Used when G is followed by a, o, u, gh + e/i
Examples: spaghetti, gusto
Soft G / J sound (like “jelly”)
Used when G is followed by e or i
Examples: giraffa, gelato 🍨
Used when G is followed by e or i
Examples: giraffa, gelato 🍨