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| 2.5 The 'c' |
The way this letter is pronounced depends on the following vowel.
ci is tchi (cinque = five, like chicken in English)
ce is tche (centro = center, similar to chain in English, but with a closed, pure e)
ca is ka (casa = house, similar like car in English, but with an open a)
co is ko (come = as, similar like cold in English, but with an open o)
cu ist ku (cucina = kitchen, like cuckoo in English)
The combination chi / che appears, if the pronunciation is ki / ke. In these case an h is needed, otherwise it would be pronounced like ci / ce.
chi is ki (chiaro = clear)
che is ke (che vuoi? = what do you want ?)
| Examples ci / ce | |
 |
cervello = brain |
|
salsiccia = sausage |
|
ricevere = to receive |
|
|
ciglio = lash |
| Examples ca / co / cu | |
|
colpa = fault |
|
cacciare = to hunt |
|
cuore = heart |
|
costruire = to construct |
| before consonants c is pronounced k as well | |
|
croce = cross |
|
chiave = key |
|
clamore = noise |
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