{"id":98922208,"date":"2025-02-06T14:52:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T19:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/otwp-admin.fareportal.com\/going-places\/?p=98922208"},"modified":"2025-02-06T14:59:30","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T19:59:30","slug":"italian-words-you-need-to-stop-mispronouncing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/italian-words-you-need-to-stop-mispronouncing\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Words You Need to Stop Mispronouncing"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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If you\u2019ve ever traveled to Italy<\/a>, you might know the slight embarrassment of mispronouncing an Italian word\u2014only to have a local gently (or not-so-gently) correct you. Whether it\u2019s an enthusiastic \u201cActually, it\u2019s grazi-EEE! <\/em>\u201d from a hotel concierge or a barista smirking at your order of \u201cexpresso,\u201d these moments can be humbling. While Italians generally appreciate the effort, some commonly mispronounced words can make even the most patient locals wince.<\/p>\r\n

To help you avoid these small but awkward linguistic mishaps, we\u2019ve put together a guide to some of the most frequently mispronounced Italian words\u2014along with tips on how to say them correctly. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.<\/span> theusndfnfjdnd<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

CONVERSATION<\/h2>\r\n

\"\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Grazie<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You wouldn\u2019t think anyone would give you a sour look after thanking them, but sadly many non-Italian speakers get a slap on the hand for mispronouncing their word for word thank you. It\u2019s not graz-i<\/em>. There is an E on the end of grazie<\/em> that you pronounce almost like an A<\/em> sound. You can sound out the pronunciation as grazi-ay<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Buongiorno<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n

Once you get off your flight<\/a> to Italy, you may need to greet someone with a more formal hello or a good day. Don\u2019t be tempted to say bohn-giorno<\/em>. The U in buongiorno<\/em> gives the word more of a drawn out sound, like boo-on-giorno<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Per favore<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Italians will roll their eyes at you if you decide to switch to Spanish when you are requesting something. The Italian phrase for “thank you” is per favore, <\/em>but foreigners often mispronounce it “por favor<\/em>.” It should actually be “pear<\/em>” like the fruit and then “fa-VOR-ay.<\/em>”\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Riposo<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n

This isn\u2019t so much of a mispronunciation in Italian as it is confused with a Spanish word, siesta<\/em>. Italians don\u2019t take a siesta. They take a riposo<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

FOOD<\/h2>\r\n

\"\"<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Bruschetta<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\r\n\r\n<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

Just as you wouldn\u2019t shoo away a plate of bruschetta<\/em>, you also shouldn\u2019t use the “shet” sound when you order it. Ch<\/em>\u00a0in Italian is pronounced with a K<\/em> sound. So the word of this delicious starts is pronounced bru-SKET-ta<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n

Calzone\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n

Calzone<\/em> is another of those frequent food offenders. Although in American we might anglicize the pronunciation to “cal-ZOWN,” in Italia you’re better off pronouncing the final E. As with grazie<\/em>, the E<\/em> has more of an A <\/em>sound like ay<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n

Espresso<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

You might want to order an espresso<\/em> at that Italian caf\u00e9, only to have the barista laugh at you for adding an X to your pronunciation by saying, \u201cExpresso<\/em>.\u201d Espresso<\/em> is pronounced, as it is spelled, hence no X sound because there isn\u2019t one.<\/p>\r\n

Gnocchi<\/h2>\r\n

If you’re dining in Italy and want to order a delicious plate of gnocchi<\/em>, make sure you say it right. Many English speakers mistakenly pronounce the “G” separately, saying something like “guh-NO-kee” or leave it off entirely by saying “NO-kee.” The correct pronunciation is NYO-kee — <\/em>the “gn” makes a soft “ny” sound, similar to the Spanish “\u00f1.”<\/p>\r\n

Mozzarella<\/h2>\r\n

You might love this stringy cheese, but are you saying it correctly? While many English speakers say “moz-uh-REL-a” or “mahz-a-REL-a,” the correct Italian pronunciation is mott-sah-REL-lah<\/em>, with a distinct “ts” sound, not a “z.” And don\u2019t leave off the final “a” sound!<\/p>\r\n

Prosciutto<\/h2>\r\n

This beloved cured ham is often mispronounced in a few different ways. Many English speakers say “pro-SHOO-doe,” fully pronouncing the final “o” as if it rhymes with “toe.” Meanwhile, in certain Italian American communities, you’ll often hear the heavily anglicized version “pro-ZOOT,” where entire syllables are dropped, and a “z” sound replaces the soft “sh.”<\/p>\r\n

In standard Italian, the correct pronunciation is pro-SHOOT-toh <\/em>, with a distinct “sh” sound for “sci” and a sharp double “t.” While the final “o” is pronounced, it’s softer and quicker than the elongated “toe” sound often used in English. If you’re ordering this delicious cured meat in Italy, stick with pro-SHOOT-toh <\/em>to avoid any confusion!<\/p>\r\n

Ciabatta<\/h2>\r\n

This popular Italian bread is often mispronounced as “see-uh-BAH-tuh” or “chee-BAH-tah.” In Italian, “ci” is pronounced like “ch,” so the correct pronunciation is cha-BAH-tta<\/em>. Don’t forget to double the “t” sound at the end!<\/p>\r\n

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Traveling to Italy? Here Are 20 Essential Italian Phrases You\u2019ll Need to Know!<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

FAQs:<\/em><\/h2>\r\n

Q: How important is correct pronunciation when speaking Italian in Italy? <\/strong>
A: While Italians appreciate any effort to speak their language, correct pronunciation helps you be understood more easily and avoids confusion. Locals are generally forgiving, but some may correct you, especially on common words.<\/p>\r\n

Q: Do Italians prefer that visitors try to speak Italian or just use English? <\/strong>
A: Italians appreciate when visitors make an effort to speak Italian, even if it\u2019s just basic phrases. In tourist areas, many people speak English, but using simple Italian greetings and polite words is always welcomed.<\/p>\r\n

Q: Are there any hand gestures that can help with communication? <\/strong>
A: Yes! Italians use hand gestures frequently to emphasize words. Simple gestures, like pinched fingers moving up and down for \u201cWhat are you saying?\u201d can help convey meaning. Just be mindful that some gestures have strong meanings.<\/p>\r\n

Q: Is it okay to mix Spanish words with Italian if I don\u2019t know the Italian word? <\/strong>
A: No, this can sometimes cause confusion or even mild annoyance. While Spanish and Italian are similar, they are distinct languages. If you\u2019re unsure of a word, try using English or pointing instead.<\/p>\r\n

Q: What are some common Italian phrases travelers should learn before visiting? <\/strong>
A: Beyond greetings like buongiorno<\/em> (good morning) and ciao<\/em> (hello\/goodbye), it\u2019s helpful to know scusa<\/em> (excuse me), dov\u2019\u00e8<\/em> (where is\u2026), quanto costa?<\/em> (how much does it cost?), and il conto, per favore<\/em>\u00a0(the check, please).<\/p>\r\n

Q: Is it necessary to roll my R\u2019s when speaking Italian? <\/strong>
A: While rolling R\u2019s is a natural part of Italian pronunciation, most Italians will still understand you if you don\u2019t do it perfectly. However, if you can practice rolling your R\u2019s, it will help your pronunciation sound more authentic.<\/p>\r\n

Q: Will Italians understand me if I pronounce words with an English accent? <\/strong>
A: Generally, yes, but some words may be harder to recognize if heavily anglicized. Paying attention to vowel sounds and syllable emphasis can make a big difference in being understood.<\/p>\r\n

Do you have any experience with mispronouncing Italian words? Tell us about it in the comments below!\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever traveled to Italy, you might know the slight embarrassment of mispronouncing an Italian word\u2014only to have a local gently (or not-so-gently) correct you. Whether it\u2019s an enthusiastic \u201cActually, it\u2019s grazi-EEE! \u201d from a hotel concierge or a barista smirking at your order of \u201cexpresso,\u201d these moments can be humbling. While Italians generally […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":98922215,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,1731,111,69],"tags":[128],"class_list":["post-98922208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","category-food","category-international-travel","category-travel-tips-intel","tag-italy"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98922208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98922208"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98922208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98922220,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98922208\/revisions\/98922220"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98922215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98922208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98922208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98922208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}