How to Pronounce “GLI” in Italian

Intro:

Hello and welcome to a new episode of Italiano Chiaro. Today we’re going to talk about one of the trickiest letter combinations in Italian: GLI. If you’ve struggled with this pronunciation, don’t worry! In this episode, I’ll walk you through some techniques that will help you pronounce “GLI” just like a native Italian.

1. Introduction to the “GLI” Sound:

Let’s start by understanding how to pronounce “GLI.” In Italian, “GLI” is a sound that doesn’t really exist in many other languages, so it can feel challenging at first. But with practice, it will become second nature!

The “GLI” sound is a palatal sound, which means the roof of the mouth plays an important role. Now, let’s go through some techniques to help you master it.

2. Technique 1: The Soft “Y” Sound:

A good starting point is to think of the “Y” sound we use in words like “yes” in English, but it’s softer. You don’t want to close your mouth the way you would when saying “Y,” but instead, let your tongue gently move toward the roof of your mouth.

Here’s how you can practice it:

• Position of the Tongue: When you say the “Y” sound in “yes” the back of your tongue moves toward the roof of your mouth. But, to pronounce “GLI” in Italian, you need to raise your tongue slightly higher, but without touching the roof of your mouth completely. Imagine saying “Y” but with your tongue getting closer to the roof of your mouth than in English.

• Mouth Shape: Keep your mouth open a little, like when you’re saying the “ee” sound in “see,” but blend it with the tongue position of the “L” sound. It’s a smooth, softer sound than the English “Y.”

Try saying the word famiglia (family). The “GLI” at the beginning of the word is like saying “Y,” but with a little more smoothness. Repeat after me: famiglia… famiglia.

3. Technique 2: The Position of the Tongue:

Another trick is to focus on the position of your tongue. When pronouncing “GLI,” your tongue should rise toward the roof of your mouth but not touch it completely. Imagine saying “L” like in “love,” and then immediately transitioning into the “Y” sound. It’s like blending those two sounds together.

Try saying figlio (son). Pay attention to the “GLI” part. The tongue should be relaxed and close to the roof of your mouth without touching it directly. Repeat after me: figlio… figlio.

4. Technique 3: Practice with Real Words:

Now, let’s practice with some words that contain “GLI.” Repeat them several times to get used to the sound.

• maniglia (handle)

• tagliatelle (pasta)

• bagagli (luggage)

At first, you can say the words slowly: maniglia .... and so on. Then, try to speed up a bit to make the sound feel more natural.

Conclusion:

There you have it! Now you have some tricks to pronounce “GLI” correctly. Like any new pronunciation, it takes a bit of practice, so don’t worry if it doesn’t sound perfect at first. Keep practicing, and you’ll see improvement!

Thanks for listening to this episode of Italiano Chiaro. I hope these tips were helpful. See you next time!