Some groups of letters in the Italian language have similar voices so in this lesson, we are going to see what are these group of letters and give you some examples for each group of letters so you can practice the difference between each sound.
6. The group letters SC and CC sound.
| SC [ʃ] | CC [ttʃ] |
| Asciuga [aʃ‘ʃuga] (Dry) | Acciuga [at’tʃuga] (Anchovy) |
| Scena [ʃɛna] (Scene) | Cena [tʃena] (Dinner) |
| Ascesso[aʃ‘ʃɛsso] (Abscess) | Accesso [at’tʃɛsso] (Access) |
| Cuscino [kuʃ‘ʃino] (Cushion) | Cucino [ku’tʃino] (I cook) |
7. The group letters LL and RL sound.
| LL [ll] | RL [rl] |
| Palla [palla] (Ball) | Parla [par’lare] (Speaks) |
| Pelle [pelle] (Skin) | Perle [per’le] (Pearls) |
| Fallo [fallo] (Just do it) | Farlo [farlo] (Farlo) |
| Cavallo [ka’vallo] (Horse) | Cavarlo [ka’varlo] (Get it out) |
8. The group letters MB and MP sound.
| MB [mb] | MP [mp] |
| Bomba [bomba] (Bomb) | Pompa [pompa] (Pump) |
| Cambio [kambjo] (Exchange) | Ampio [ampjo] (Ample) |
| Rombo [rombo] (Rhombus) | Rompo [rompo] (I break) |
| Gambo [gambo] (Stem) | Campo [kompo] (Field) |
9. The group letters MBR and MPR sound.
| MBR [mbr] | MPR [mpr] |
| Ombra [ombra] (Shadow) | Compra [kompra] (Buy) |
| Sembra [sem’bra] (It seems) | Sempre [sɛmpre] (Always) |
| Sgombro [zgombro] (Mackerel) | Compro [kompro] (I buy) |
| Imbracare [imbra’kare] (Harness) | Imprecare [impre’kare] (Swearing) |
10. The group letters MPL and MPR sound.
| MPL [mpl] | MPR [mpr] |
| Semplice [semplitʃe] (Simple) | Sempre [sɛmpre] (Always) |
| Complesso [kom’plɛsso] (Complex) | Compresso [kom’prɛsso] (Compressed) |
| Completo [kom’plɛto] (Business suit) | Comprato [kom’prato] (Bought) |
Exercises on the lesson here
Related lessons:
Phonological oppositions part 1