The Italian alphabet

Italian alphabet: what’s different (and why it matters for spelling)

Italian uses 21 “basic” letters (A–Z) and normally does not include J, K, W, X, Y.

• J, K, W, X, Y appear mainly in foreign names, brands, and loanwords (e.g., Jakob, kayak, windsurf).
• This is why Italians often clarify letters using examples: “J di Jazz”, “K di Kayak”.

“H” in Italian: what you should pay attention to

H is silent in Italian. You write it in some words, but you don’t pronounce it.

• If you hear “otel”, you may still need to write hotel in Italian.
• In spelling, Italians may still say “H (acca)” to avoid confusion.

Spelling your name: the practical formula Italians use

In offices, courses, and phone calls, spelling is often done with “letter + example word”.

• A come Albero (A as in Albero)
• B come Barca
• C come Casa

Typical question and answer:

• Come si scrive il suo nome/cognome? (How do you spell your first/last name?)
• Si scrive L-U-C-I-A. / L come Luna, U come Uva…

Sounds that cause spelling mistakes (quick survival notes)

When spelling Italian words, learners often confuse letters because the sound changes with the next vowel.

If you need the hard k sound before E/I, Italian writes CH:

• che = “keh”
• Chiara = “Kya-ra”

Self-check: can you do this without thinking?

1. Can you say your name slowly and clearly?
2. Can you spell it as letters (e.g., L-U-C-I-A)?
3. Can you spell it with the “A come…” style for clarity?
4. If your name contains J/K/W/X/Y, can you add: “È un nome straniero.” (It’s a foreign name.)

Goal: you can handle a registration desk, a colleague, or a teacher asking you to spell your details—without hesitation.