In Italian, the letter c has two distinct sounds: like the hard “k” sound in the English word “key,” and like the softer “ch” sound in “child.” The letter g also has two distinct sounds: like the hard “g” sound of “garden,” and like the softer “j” sound of the English word “jar.”

Exercise 31: The Letter C

TRACK 32

Listen to Track 32. Repeat each word you hear.

• cameriere

• amico

• cura

• che

• chi

The Italian c is pronounced as a hard “k” sound when it is followed by a, o, u, he, hi.

Exercise 32: The Letter C

TRACK 33

Listen to Track 33. Repeat each word you hear.

• cucinare

• amici

• cento

• celebrare

• ciao

The Italian c is pronounced like the “ch” in “child” when it is followed by an e or i.

Exercise 33: The Letter G

TRACK 34

Listen to Track 34. Repeat each word you hear.

• gatto

• gonfiare

• guscio

• ghetto

• ghiaccio

• grasso

The Italian g is pronounced as a hard “g” sound when it is followed by a, o, u, he, hi, or r.

Exercise 34: The Letter G

TRACK 35

Listen to Track 35. Repeat each word you hear.

• gettare

• genio

• Gino

• pagina

• cugino

The Italian g is pronounced like the “j” in “jar” when it is followed by an e or i.

Exercise 35: The Letters C and G

TRACK 36

Listen to the sentences on Track 36, and then read them aloud, paying close attention to the pronunciation of the s and z sounds.

• Gino mangia il formaggio.

• Cento gatti giocano nel parco.

• Come canta bene la zia Catia!

• La cugina della mia amica non sa cucinare.

• “Ecco il carpaccio!,” dice il cameriere.

• Ha messo lo zucchero nel caffè a colazione.

• Chi mangia il gelato al cioccolato?

• La città di Parigi è in Francia.

• Si dice che si mangi bene in Germania.

• Vai al cinema con Carlo?