Italian Words Mispronounced by Americans: Bruschetta, Espresso, Gnocchi and More
A0 · Pronunciation · Famous words
You order them every week. Time to order them the Italian way, with zero embarrassment and maybe a free biscotto.
Quick answer
The Italian words mispronounced most often in the US are bruschetta (broo-SKET-tah), espresso (eh-SPRESS-soh, no X), gnocchi (NYOHK-kee), prosciutto (proh-SHOOT-toh), Chianti (KYAHN-tee), mascarpone (mah-skar-POH-neh) and focaccia (foh-KAHT-chah). Each one follows a simple Italian sound rule.
Italian words mispronounced: how to read this page
Every word has three parts. Red is the common version you often hear in the US. Green is the Italian way. The chip tells you which rule explains it (tap it to learn the rule).
💡 In simple words
Nobody is judging you: these mix-ups are normal, and Italians love it when you try. Once you know the 10 sound rules, you can read any menu, not just these words.
Glasses on. Red is the common version, green is the Italian way. I read every letter, even the last one.
Pasta and bread
bruschetta
bru-SHET-ta → broo-SKET-tah Rule 10 · SCH
SCH + e = SK. The H is a little wall that keeps the C hard.
gnocchi
NOH-kee → NYOHK-kee Rule 8 · GN
GN = the ny in canyon. And CH = K (Rule 5), so it’s never “nochee”.
tagliatelle
tag-lee-uh-TELL-ee → tah-lyah-TEHL-leh Rule 7 · GLI
GLI is one soft sound, like the lli in million. No hard G.
focaccia
foh-KAH-chee-ah → foh-KAHT-chah Rule 6 · silent i
CIA = CHA: the i is silent. Plus a double C you hold (Rule 2).
ciabatta
chee-uh-BAH-duh → chah-BAHT-tah Rule 6 · silent i
Same silent i as ciao. And a real, held TT: no soft American “d”.
The deli counter and dessert
prosciutto
pro-SHOO-toe → proh-SHOOT-toh Rule 9 · SCI
SCIU = SHU, silent i. Then hold the double T: SHOOT-toh.
mascarpone
MAR-scuh-pohn → mah-skar-POH-neh Rule 1 · read every letter
There is no R after the first A. Read it letter by letter: mas-car-po-ne. The final E is spoken too.
gelato
juh-LAH-doh → jeh-LAH-toh Rule 4 · soft G
G + e = J, that part is easy. The trap is the T: in Italian a T is always a crisp T, never a soft “d”.
caprese
kuh-PRAYZ → kah-PREH-zeh Rule 1 · read every letter
Italian never swallows the last vowel. Three syllables: ca-pre-se.
Drinks: espresso, not expresso
espresso
ex-PRESS-oh → eh-SPRESS-soh Rule 1 · read every letter
There is no X in the word, so there is no X in the sound. Read what you see: es-pres-so.
cappuccino
kap-uh-CHEE-noh → kahp-pooch-CHEE-noh Rule 2 · doubles
You mostly say this one right! Just hold the PP and the CC a little longer.
“Expresso”? Super common, and super easy to fix. Read what you see: es-pres-so!
Fast cars and fashion
lam·bor·ghi·ni
lahm-bohr-GHEE-nee
fer·ra·ri
fehr-RAH-ree
ver·sa·ce
vehr-SAH-cheh
Lamborghini
lam-bor-JEE-nee → lahm-bohr-GHEE-nee Rule 5 · GH = hard G
GH is always a hard G, like in get. Same as spaghetti.
Ferrari
fuh-RAH-ree → fehr-RAH-ree Rule 2 · doubles
A clear E at the start and a double R: a strong, rolled RR.
Versace
ver-SAH-chee → vehr-SAH-cheh Rule 1 · read every letter
The last letter is an E, so the sound is EH, not EE. (The CE = CHE part is Rule 4.)
The 3 habits behind almost every mistake
1
Every vowel counts
Italian never swallows the last vowel: caprese, Versace, mascarpone all end with a clear EH.
2
T is always T
Americans soften T between vowels (wader). Italians never do: gelato, ciabatta, Chianti.
3
Letters are read as written
No X in espresso, no R in “marscapone”. If you read the spelling, you are right.
In real life: ordering at the bar
Luca
barista
Buongiorno! Prego?
Good morning! What can I get you? · bwohn-JOR-noh, PREH-goh
you
Buongiorno! Un espresso e una focaccia, per favore.
Good morning! An espresso and a focaccia, please. · eh-SPRESS-soh, foh-KAHT-chah
Luca
barista
Perfetto! Lei parla molto bene!
Perfect! You speak very well!
Two words said right, one big compliment. That’s the deal.
Words that changed on the way to America
🌶️ Pepperoni
Order “pepperoni pizza” in Italy and you may get a pizza with peppers: peperoni (peh-peh-ROH-nee) means bell peppers. Ask for salame piccante (spicy salami) instead.
🥪 Panini
Panini is plural. One sandwich is un panino (pah-NEE-noh). So “one panini” sounds to Italians like “one sandwiches”.
Step 9 · Practice
🍕 Your turn
Say each option out loud before you choose. Your ear will often know before your eyes do. No pressure.
Warm-up · 5 questions
Italian ✓ or not quite ✗?
1. ex-PRESS-oh
2. broo-SKET-tah
3. NYOHK-kee
4. MAR-scuh-pohn
5. KYAHN-tee
See more exercises · 43 questions ▾Hide the extra exercises ▴
1 · Italian ✓ or not quite ✗?
Read it out loud. Is this how an Italian says it?
1. proh-SHOOT-toh
2. juh-LAH-doh
3. foh-KAHT-chah
4. tag-lee-uh-TELL-ee
5. chee-AHN-tee
6. chah-BAHT-tah
7. lam-bor-JEE-nee
8. kah-PREH-zeh
9. ver-SAH-chee
10. tah-lyah-TEHL-leh
11. bru-SHET-ta
12. mah-skar-POH-neh
2 · Match the word to the rule
Which rule explains the tricky part of the word?
1. gnocchi
2. bruschetta
3. Chianti
4. tagliatelle
5. prosciutto
6. ciabatta
7. Lamborghini
8. espresso
9. focaccia
10. gelato (the G)
3 · Choose the right hint
Which pronunciation is Italian?
1. espresso
2. gelato
3. mascarpone
4. Chianti
5. focaccia
6. Versace
7. Lamborghini
8. ciabatta
9. tagliatelle
10. prosciutto
4 · From sound to spelling
Read the hint and type the famous word. Capital letters don’t matter.
1. eh-SPRESS-soh
2. broo-SKET-tah
3. NYOHK-kee
4. KYAHN-tee
5. mah-skar-POH-neh
6. jeh-LAH-toh
7. proh-SHOOT-toh
8. foh-KAHT-chah
5 · Order it in Italian
Type the Italian. Capital letters and punctuation don’t matter.
1. An espresso, please.
2. A gelato, please.
3. A focaccia, please.
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Ci vediamo la prossima settimana! – Sì, alla prossima lezione! Ciao!
See you next week! – Yes, see you at the next lesson! Bye!
🔊 The pronunciation series
Written by Luciana
Native Italian teacher, CEDILS certified, 10,000+ lessons since 2020.
