Italian vowels (i vocali) are short, clear–cut, and are never drawn out. The "glide" with which English vowels frequently end should be avoided. It should be noted that a, i, u, are always pronounced the same way; e and o, on the other hand, have an open and a closed sound that may vary from one part of Italy to the other.
The approximate English equivalents are as follows:
a is like a in the English word ah!
| casa | house |
| antipasto | appetizer |
| ama | loves |
| banana | banana |
| sala | hall |
| Papa | Pope |
| fama | fame |
| pasta | pasta; dough; pastry |
e is sometimes like e in the English word they (without the final i glide).
| e | and |
| beve | drinks |
| me | me |
| fede | faith |
| vede | sees |
| mele | apples |
| sete | thirst |
| pepe | pepper |
e is sometimes like e in the word met. This is the open e.
|
è |
is |
|
lento |
slow |
|
bene |
well |
|
festa |
party; holiday |
|
sedia |
chair |
|
presto |
soon |
|
vento |
wind |
|
tè |
tea |
i is like i in machine.
|
libri |
books |
|
bimbi |
children |
|
vini |
wines |
|
violini |
violins |
|
tini |
vats |
|
pini |
pines |
o is sometimes like o in the English word oh!.
|
o |
or |
|
dono |
gift |
|
nome |
name |
|
solo |
alone |
|
posto |
place |
|
tondo |
round |
|
volo |
flight |
|
mondo |
world |
o is sometimes like o in or. This is the open o.
| moda | fashion |
| toga | toga |
| no | no |
| oro | gold |
| posta | |
| brodo | broth |
| cosa | thing |
| trono | throne |
| rosa | rose |
| olio | oil |
u is like u in rule.
| luna | moon |
| fungo | mushroom |
| uno | one |
| lungo | long |
| fuga | fugue |
| mulo | mule |
| uso | use |
| tubo | tube |