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Il raddoppiamento delle consonanti / The doubling of consonants

There are sixteen consonants (b-c-d-f-g-h-l-m-n-p-q-r-s-t-v-z) in the Italian alphabet.

The pronunciation of consonants changes when they double. It is necessary to know the difference between the correct pronunciation of the letter when it is doubled or not.

Il raddoppiamento delle consonanti (The doubling of consonants)

1. All consonants can be doubled in a word, except (h) and (q).

La lettera e la pronuncia
(the letter and the pronunciation)		Esempio
(Example)		La pronuncia
(The pronunciation)
b [b]Cambia
(Change)		[kambja]
bb [bb]Rabbia
(Anger)		[rabbja]
c [k]Eco
(Echo)		[ɛko]
cc [kk]Ecco
(Here you are)		[ɛkko]
c [tʃ]Bacio
(Kiss)		[batʃo]
cc [ttʃ]Braccio
(Arm)		[brattʃo]
d [d]Caldo
(Heat)		[kaldo]
dd [dd]Freddo
(Cold)		[freddo]
f [f]Stufa
(Heater)		[stufa]
ff [ff]Stoffa
(Fabric)		[stuffa]
g [g]Frigo
(Fridge)		[frigo]
gg [gg]Friggo
(I fry)		[friggo]
g [ʤ]Regia
(Direction)		[re’ʤia]
gg [dʤ]Reggia
(Palace)		[redʤa]
I [I]Vale
(It’s worth it)		[vale]
II [II]Valle
(Valley)		[valle]
m [m]Camino
(Chimney)		[ka’mino]
mm [mm]Cammino
(I walk)		[kam’mino]
n [n]Nono
(Ninth)		[nɔno]
nn [nn]Nonno
(Grampa)		[nɔnno]
P [P]Papa
(Pope)		[papa]
PP [PP]Cappa
(cooker hood)		[kappa]
r [r]Coro
(Choir)		[kɔro]
rr [rr]Corro
(I run)		[kɔrro]
s [s] [z]Nota
(Note)		[nɔta]
ss [ss]Notte
(Night)		[nɔtte]
t [t]Latina
(Latin)		[la’tina]
tt [tt]Lattina
(Tin can)		[lat’tina]
v [v]Evitare
(Avoid)		[evi’tare]
vv [vv]Avvitare
(Screw)		[avvi’tare]
z [ts]Scalzo
(Barefoot)		[skaltso]
z [tts]Struzzo
(Ostrich)		[struttso]
z [dz]Zero
(Zero)		[dzɛro]
zz [ddz]Azzurro
(Sky blue)		[ad’dzurro]

2 . When (gli – gn) or (sci – sce ) comes between two vowels they have a double sound even if they don’t have a double letter.

gli gnsce/sci
aglio
(garlic)		[aʎʎo]bagno
(bath) 		[baɲɲo]pesce
(fish)		[pʃʃe]
figlio
(son)		[fiʎʎo]pugno
(punch)		[puɲɲo]ascensore
(elevator)		[aʃʃen’sore]
foglio
(sheet)		[fɔʎʎo]sogno
(dream)		[soɲɲo]ruscello
(stream)		[ruʃ’ʃɛllo]
luglio
(July)		[luʎʎo]bisogna
(must)		[bi’zoɲɲa]asciugamano
(towel)		[aʃ’ʃuga’mano]
meglio
(better)		[mɛʎʎo]lasagna
(lasagna)		[la’zaɲɲa]cuscino
(cushion)		[kuʃ’ʃino]
legno
(wood)		[leɲɲo]spugna
(sponge)		[spuɲɲa]fascia
(bandage)		[faʃʃa]

3. The consonant z is pronounced as if it were a double when it comes between two vowels or in the following cases:

A). In nouns ending with -ion:

  • Azione (action)
  • Lezione (lesson)
  • Informazione (information)

B). In nouns ending in -zia, -zie, -zio:

  • polizia (police)
  • delizie (delights)
  • giudizio(judgment)
  • spazio(space)

4. The doubling of (q) is written (cq).

  • Acqua (Water)
  • Acquistare (Purchase)
  • Acquario (Aquarium)

5. The consonants (g) and (z) do not double before (- ion).

  • stagione (season)
  • ragione (reason)
  • carnagione (complexion)
  • azione (action)
  • correction (correzione)
  • stazione (station)

6. The consonant (b) does not doubled before (-ile).

  • mobile (mobile)
  • terribile (terrible)
  • usabile (usable)
  • amabile (lovable)
  • trasportabile (transportable)
  • bevibile (bevibile)
  • mangiabile (eatable)