Diphthongs - two adjacent vowels sounds occurring within the same

syllable.

Five most common:

1. ai [a:i] mai, sai, vai
2. au [a:u] aura, pausa, Lauretta
3. ei [E:i] lei, bei, sei
4. oi [):i] poi, vuoi, suoi
5. ui [u:i] cui, fui, lui

Other combinations:
1. ae [a:e] paesano
2. ao [a:o] Paolo, ciao
3. eu [e:u] feudale, Euridice

Singing diphthongs – the first vowel must be lengthened before singing the
second vowel. Avoid separating the vowels.

Glides - an unstressed vowel proceeding quickly and smoothly to the

following vowel.

1. [j] pianto, pieta, fiore, fiume

2. [w] guardo, questo, squilla, suono
3. [ʎ] gli, gl’angeli, aglio, gl’occhi
*[j] may be spelled as j. gioja = gioia, muojo = muoio

c or g + i= softens the consonant. The i, is not a glide or vowel. It is silent.

cielo, ciao, Giovanni, lasciate
If no vowel follows the i, it is sounded. cinto, ciglio, giro, Gilda.

When gli [ʎi] is not followed by a vowel it serves as both a

glide and a vowel. Agli, vegli
Followed by a vowel = aglio, veglio

qu always [kw] = qua [kwa].

Recognizing diphthongs and glides
1. recognized by the spelling: ai, au, ei, oi, ui, ae, ao, eu.
 2. gli = glide [ʎ]
3. i + vowel and u+ vowel with an accent mark on the final vowel =
glide. Same applies to polysyllabic words.
piu`, pie`, puo`, langui`, odio`
4. no accent mark on final vowel, the combination is a diphthong. io,
fia, sue, malia, pizzeria, polizia.
5. The third person plural verb endings is always unstressed. When it is
preceded by i, a diphthong is produced. Siano[si:an)] fiano [fi:an)].
6. In a final unstressed syllable, a glide is indicated. Aria [a rja], rabbia
[rab:bja].
7. In the interior of a word, i or u followed by another vowel will always
produce a glide. siete [sje tE], guidate [gwi da tE].

Elision – words linked together in a way that two or more vowels fall
together on the same note. Pg. 105

1. The stressed vowel should last longer than the other vowels.
2. In unstressed syllables, the vowel belonging to the more important
word will be of longer duration. A verb is more important that an
article.
3. When in doubt divide the value equally between the vowels. Go
smoothly between the vowels. Don’t want to hear separate notes.
4. Never use glottal stop between vowels.
5. Vowels are not repeated in Italian. Examples pg. 105.