Quick answerLasagne is pronounced la-ZAH-nyeh (IPA /laˈzaɲɲe/). The "s" between vowels is voiced like "z", the "gn" is one soft "ny" sound, and the final "e" is pronounced. Do not say la-ZAG-nee.
English borrowed lasagna as a dish name, but Italian menus often show lasagne, the plural. That final "e" is real, and the "gn" before it is the same soft sound you hear in gnocchi.
01The "gn" is not "g-n"
Italian gn works like the Spanish ñ. Do not start with a hard "g"; let the tongue press gently against the roof of the mouth and glide into the final vowel. That is the difference between Italian lasagne and English-looking "lagnee".
| Italian | Meaning | Hear |
|---|---|---|
Lasagne /laˈzaɲɲe/ | sheets of baked pasta | |
Gnocchi /ˈɲɔkki/ | potato dumplings | |
Bagno /ˈbaɲɲo/ | bathroom |
02Keep the final "e"
The ending is "nyeh", not "nee" and not silent. Italian final vowels stay clear, so the last beat should still be audible. Keep the middle stress strong: la-ZAH-nyeh.
Say "lasagne" and land the strong beat on "ZAH": la-ZAH-nyeh. The engine listens to where the stress falls.
- la-ZAG-nee → la-ZAH-nyeh The "gn" is one soft "ny" sound, not hard "g" plus "n".
- la-SAH-nya → la-ZAH-nyeh In lasagne, the "s" is voiced and the final letter is "e".
Lasagna or lasagne?
In Italian, lasagna is one sheet of pasta; lasagne is the plural and the usual dish name. In English, "lasagna" became the common dish name, which is why menus can feel inconsistent.
If gnocchi taught you "ny", lasagne lets you use it at dinner.
Is it lasagna or lasagne in Italian?
Why does the "s" sound like "z"?
Is the final "e" pronounced?
Now try it yourself — out loud.
Say it out loud and let the engine check the stress.
Practice this in Sentiero →