Italian Language Lessons
Grammar, spelling, and usage
Italian Double Consonants
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In Italian, all consonants except h can be doubled. Double consonants (i consonanti doppie) are pronounced much more forcefully than single consonants. With double f, l, m, n, r, s, and v, the sound is prolonged; with double b, c, d, g, p, and t, the stop is stronger than for the single consonant. Double z is pronounced almost the same as single z. Double s is always unvoiced.
Double consonant examples:
| Italian | English |
|---|
| babbo | dad |
| fetta | slice |
| evviva | hurrah |
| bistecca | beefsteak |
| mamma | mama |
| albicocca | apricot |
| bello | beautiful |
| filetto | filet |
| anno | year |
| assai | a lot |
| basso | short |
| ragazzo | boy |
| ferro | iron |
| pennello | paint brush |
| espresso | espresso coffee |
| tavolozza | palette |
| spaghetti | spaghetti |
| cavalletto | easel |
Most Italian words end in a vowel.
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