Utenti:Michiluzzu Scalisi/English/Note 2

Note 2 cancia

G has a unique pronunciation, called the voiced velar fricative. It's also called the "Greek G" because it has the same sound as the G in Greek, and the Greek letter represents it in the IPA.


The pronunciation - /ɣ/ - is used for all G, except when it comes before or after N (gn and ng). It takes place, therefore, (1) before consonants, (2) after consonants and (3) before/after/between vowels:


Letter Pronunciation Example Pronunciation Significato italiano Meaning in English
g /ɣ/
(1) figghi /'fiɣɣɪ/ figli sons, children
gravusu /ɣɾɐ'wusʊ/ pesante heavy
(2) arganettu /ɐɾɣɐ'nɛttʊ/ fisarmonica, armonica accordian, harmonic
sgobbu /'ʃɣɔbbʊ/ sciatto ugly, unkempt
(3) gubburuni /ɣʊbbʊ'ɾunɪ/ regalo, dono gift, present
pagari /pɐ'ɣaɾɪ/ pagare to pay