Yes, you read that right: the standard Italian alphabet has only 21 letters. While you might spot a few others on signs or in borrowed words, these 21 are the true building blocks, each with a clear, consistent sound that makes Italian a joy to pronounce.
Learning these fundamental sounds is your first step to speaking Italian with confidence, unlocking the rhythm and music of the language.
01How many letters are in the Italian alphabet?
The Italian alphabet, called l'alfabeto italiano, consists of 21 letters. If you're used to English, you'll notice a few familiar letters are missing. Here they are, with their names and a simple guide to their sounds:
| Italian | Meaning | Hear |
|---|---|---|
A (a) /a/ | like 'ah' in 'father' | |
B (bi) /bi/ | like 'b' in 'boy' | |
C (ci) /tʃi/ | like 'ch' in 'chair' (before i, e); like 'k' in 'cat' (before a, o, u, h) | |
D (di) /di/ | like 'd' in 'dog' | |
E (e) /ɛ/ | like 'eh' in 'bed' | |
F (effe) /ˈɛf.fe/ | like 'f' in 'fish' | |
G (gi) /dʒi/ | like 'j' in 'jam' (before i, e); like 'g' in 'go' (before a, o, u, h) | |
H (acca) /ˈak.ka/ | always silent | |
I (i) /i/ | like 'ee' in 'see' | |
L (elle) /ˈɛl.le/ | like 'l' in 'love' | |
M (emme) /ˈɛm.me/ | like 'm' in 'mom' | |
N (enne) /ˈɛn.ne/ | like 'n' in 'no' | |
O (o) /ɔ/ | like 'oh' in 'go' | |
P (pi) /pi/ | like 'p' in 'pen' | |
Q (cu) /ku/ | always followed by 'u' (qu), like 'kw' in 'queen' | |
R (erre) /ˈɛr.re/ | a rolled 'r', like in Spanish 'perro' | |
S (esse) /ˈɛs.se/ | like 's' in 'sun' or 'z' in 'zebra' (between vowels) | |
T (ti) /ti/ | like 't' in 'top' | |
U (u) /u/ | like 'oo' in 'moon' | |
V (vu) /vu/ | like 'v' in 'van' | |
Z (zeta) /ˈdzet.ta/ | like 'ts' in 'cats' or 'dz' in 'adze' |
02What about the 'foreign' letters?
While not part of the core 21, you will sometimes encounter five additional letters in Italian: J, K, W, X, and Y. These are used almost exclusively for words borrowed from other languages, like English or French. For example, you might see jeans or weekend.
| Italian | Meaning | Hear |
|---|---|---|
J (i lunga) /i ˈluŋ.ɡa/ | like 'y' in 'yes' (e.g., yogurt) | |
K (kappa) /ˈkap.pa/ | like 'k' in 'kite' (e.g., kiwi) | |
W (doppia vu) /ˈdop.pja ˈvu/ | like 'v' in 'van' or 'w' in 'water' (e.g., whisky) | |
X (ics) /iks/ | like 'ks' in 'fox' (e.g., xilofono) | |
Y (ipsilon) /ˈip.si.lon/ | like 'i' in 'machine' or 'y' in 'myth' (e.g., yoga) |
Where you'll see them
You'll most often spot these foreign letters in brand names, scientific terms, or words for foods and trends adopted from other cultures. Think computer, sport, or jazz.
- Pronouncing 'h' in Italian → Always keep 'h' silent The letter 'h' is never pronounced in Italian, only used to change the sound of 'c' and 'g' (e.g., che /ke/, ghi /ɡi/).
- Rolling the 'r' too softly → Give the 'r' a good roll! The Italian 'r' is a distinct trilled sound, not like the soft English 'r'. Practice makes perfect!
Why are some letters missing from the Italian alphabet?
Do I need to learn the foreign letters?
Is Italian pronunciation difficult?
So there you have it: a wonderfully concise alphabet that makes Italian a joy to read and speak. Start with these 21 letters, and you're well on your way to unlocking the beautiful sounds of Italy!
Now try it yourself — out loud.
Hear and repeat every letter and sound.
Practice this in Sentiero →