Italian C and G Sounds Explained
January 24, 2026
The letters C and G in Italian follow a logical pattern that, once learned, will let you correctly pronounce any Italian word. The key is understanding when they're "soft" and when they're "hard."
Let's break down these essential sounds:
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Words to Play
1. The Letter C - Complete Guide
Soft C (before E, I) = "CH" as in "cheese"
| Italian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| cena | dinner | CHEH-nah |
| ciao | hello/bye | CHOW |
| amici | friends | ah-MEE-chee |
Hard C (before A, O, U) = "K" as in "cat"
| Italian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| casa | house | KAH-zah |
CH = Always "K" sound (the H keeps it hard)
| Italian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| che | what/that | KEH |
| amiche | friends (f) | ah-MEE-keh |
Notice how "amici" (male friends) has a CH sound, but "amiche" (female friends) has a K sound. The H changes the pronunciation!
2. The Letter G - Complete Guide
Soft G (before E, I) = "J" as in "judge"
| Italian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| gelato | ice cream | jeh-LAH-toh |
| gente | people | JEN-teh |
| giorno | day | JOR-noh |
Hard G (before A, O, U) = "G" as in "go"
| Italian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| gatto | cat | GAHT-toh |
GH = Always hard "G" sound (the H keeps it hard)
| Italian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| spaghetti | spaghetti | spah-GET-tee |
| funghi | mushrooms | FOON-gee |
3. The Pattern: A Simple Rule
Here's the easy way to remember:
| Before... | C sounds like... | G sounds like... |
|---|---|---|
| A, O, U | K (hard) | G as in "go" (hard) |
| E, I | CH (soft) | J (soft) |
| H + E/I | K (hard) | G as in "go" (hard) |
The H acts as a "hardener" - it keeps C and G hard even before E or I.
4. Common Words to Practice
| Soft Sound | English | Hard Sound | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ciao | hello | che | what |
| amici | friends (m) | amiche | friends (f) |
| gelato | ice cream | spaghetti | spaghetti |
5. Tips for Mastery
- Think about the following vowel: Before you pronounce C or G, look at what comes next.
- The H is your clue: If you see CH or GH, you know it's a hard sound.
- Practice pairs: Compare "amici" and "amiche" to train your ear.
- Italian words you know: "Cappuccino" (hard C + soft C), "spaghetti" (hard GH) - you've been practicing Italian without realizing it!