Open and Closed Vowels in Italian: è vs é, ò vs ó

Quick answer
In Italian, the accents è and ò indicate an open sound, meaning your mouth opens wider, while é and ó indicate a closed sound, where your mouth is more constricted. In standard spelling, perché ends in the closed sound é (/e/), while caffè ends in the open sound è (/ɛ/). Inside a word the accent is usually not written, so listening matters.

01What's the difference between è and é?

The è (e aperta) is an open 'e' sound. Think of the 'e' in the English word "bed" or "get." Your mouth is relatively open, and the sound comes from the front of your mouth.

Italian	Meaning	Hear
caffè /kafˈfɛ/	coffee
è /ɛ/	is (from 'essere')
c'è /tʃɛ/	there is

The é (e chiusa) is a closed 'e' sound. Imagine the 'e' in the English word "day" or "say," but without the 'y' sound that often follows in English. Your mouth is more closed, and the sound is more focused.

Italian	Meaning	Hear
perché /perˈke/	why/because (standard pronunciation and spelling)
ventitré /ventiˈtre/	twenty-three
sé /se/	self/himself/herself

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02What about ò and ó?

The ò (o aperta) is an open 'o' sound. Think of the 'o' in the English word "dog" or "hot." Your mouth is rounded and quite open.

Italian	Meaning	Hear
ciò /t͡ʃɔ/	this/that (as a pronoun)
però /peˈrɔ/	however/but

The ó (o chiusa) is a closed 'o' sound. Imagine the 'o' in the English word "boat" or "go," but again, without the 'u' sound that often follows in English. Your lips are more pursed, and the sound is more focused.

Italian	Meaning	Hear
dopo /ˈdopo/	after (the stressed 'o' is closed)
sole /ˈsole/	sun (closed 'o')
nome /ˈnome/	name (closed 'o')

Lo sapevi? · Did you know

When accents change meaning

While accents are often only written when they fall on the last vowel of a word, understanding the open/closed distinction is vital for internal vowels too. For instance, pesca (open 'e') means 'peach,' but pesca (closed 'e') means 'fishing.' Context usually helps, but knowing the sound makes you sound more natural.

Pronouncing 'caffè' with a closed 'e' sound. → caffè /kafˈfɛ/ The grave accent marks the standard open final vowel /ɛ/.
Saying 'perché' always with an open 'e'. → perché /perˈke/ (closed 'e') Standard Italian writes an acute accent here because the final vowel is closed. Regional speech can vary, but the learner target is /e/.

Say it · one check

una porta/ˈpɔrta/a door

Say "una porta" with the first O open, /ɔ/ — jaw relaxed and the tongue slightly lower than for the closed /o/ in "dopo". The engine compares that vowel with the native model.

Do I need to memorize all these rules?

While the explicit rules for open versus closed vowels can be complex, the best way to learn is through listening and imitation. Pay attention to how native speakers pronounce words, especially those with accents, and try to mimic their sounds. Your ear will naturally pick up the patterns over time.

Why aren't all open/closed vowels marked with an accent?

Italian orthography (spelling) only requires accents to be written on the last vowel of a word. For vowels within a word, the open or closed quality is usually inherent to the word's pronunciation and isn't explicitly marked, which is why listening is so important for internal vowels.

Is it a big deal if I get them wrong?

Most of the time, no. Italians are very understanding of learners. However, getting these sounds right will significantly improve your pronunciation and confidence. In rare cases, like pesca, it can change the meaning, but context usually prevents major misunderstandings.

Don't let these subtle differences intimidate you. Think of them as a delightful nuance, a way to add more color and precision to your Italian. With a little practice and a lot of listening, you'll soon be distinguishing between è and é, ò and ó like a true local.

Alla prossima, Aleksander

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