This chart offers a detailed comparison of the phonemes used in Italian (Italy) – it-IT, displayed using both IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) and X-SAMPA transcription systems. Each row includes the phoneme symbol, a sample word, and its full phonetic transcription in both formats.

Italian phonology is known for its clear distinction between single and geminated (long) consonants, which are phonemically contrastive and noted with doubled consonants (e.g., /p/ vs. /pː/). The language also includes a rich variety of affricates, nasals, and liquids, and employs consistent vowel qualities without vowel reduction. This chart is intended for learners, educators, linguists, and developers working on pronunciation, phonetic analysis, or Italian speech processing. A reference for stress symbols and syllable boundaries is included at the end.


Italian (Italy) – it-IT

X-SAMPAIPAExample WordX-SAMPA TranscriptionIPA Transcription
pppane"paneˈpane
p:appenaa"p:enaaˈpːena
bbbocca"bok:aˈbokːa
b:abbacchioa"b:ak:joaˈbːakːjo
tttedio"tEdjoˈtɛdjo
t:attentoa"t:Entoaˈtːɛnto
dddato"datoˈdato
d:addioa"d:ioaˈdːio
kkcolonnako"lon:akoˈlonːa
k:accoltoa"k:Oltoaˈkːɔlto
gɡgatto"gat:oˈgatːo
g:ɡːagguatoa"g:watoaˈɡːwato
fffulgido"fuldZidoˈfulʤido
f:affusolatoaf:uzo"latoafːuzoˈlato
vvvaso"vazoˈvazo
v:avviareav:i"areavːiˈare
sssete"seteˈsete
s:assetatoas:e"tatoasːeˈtato
zzfuso"fuzoˈfuzo
Sʃsciopero"SOperoˈʃɔpero
S:ʃːfascia"faS:aˈfaʃːa
Zʒgaragega"raZgaˈraʒ
tststsunamitsu"namitsuˈnami
ts:tsːstazionesta"ts:jonestaˈtsːjone
dzdzzero"dzEroˈdzɛro
dz:dzːazzerareadz:e"rareadzːeˈrare
tScima"tSimaˈtʃima
tS:tʃːfaccia"fatS:aˈfatʃːa
dZgiro"dZiroˈdʒiro
dZ:dʒːaggirareadZ:i"rareadʒːiˈrare
mmmano"manoˈmano
m:ammanicatoam:ani"katoamːaniˈkato
nnnoia"nOjaˈnɔja
n:annoiarean:o"jareanːoˈjare
Jɲgnomo"JOmoˈɲɔmo
J:ɲːagnelloa"J:El:oaˈɲːɛlːo
rrruolo"rwOloˈrwɔlo
r:arruolarear:wo"larearːwoˈlare
llladro"ladroˈladro
l:allarmea"l:armeaˈlːarme
Lʎgli"Liˈʎi
L:ʎːaglio"aL:oˈaʎːo
hhJuanhu"anhuˈan
Tθmath (loan)"maTˈmaθ
jjJuventus / vorreiju"vEntus / vo"r:Ejjuˈvɛntus / voˈrːɛj
wwruolo / causa"rwOlo / "kawzaˈrwɔlo / ˈkawza
3:ɜːPasteurpa"st3:rpaˈstɜːr
aaamorea"moreaˈmore
eeesilioe"ziljoeˈziljo
ooosareo"zareoˈzare
Eɛpelle"pEl:eˈpɛlːe
iiignaroi"J:aroiˈɲːaro
Oɔpolo"pOloˈpɔlo
uumuro"muroˈmuro

Stress Symbols

FunctionIPAX-SAMPA
Primary stressˈ"
Syllable boundary..