Italian · Difficult words
How to pronounce macchina in Italian
macchina
Car
Standard Italian · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
macchina is pronounced /ˈmak.ki.na/ in Italian. In macchina: The spelling ch keeps a hard /k/ sound before e or i. The h helps signal the spelling pattern rather than adding a breath sound. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
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Find the sounds in macchina
Read macchina in these IPA segments: ˈmak · ki · na. Dots and stress marks identify the boundaries shown in the reference; these symbols are not English spelling. The mark /ˈ/ comes immediately before the main stressed syllable. Give that syllable a little more prominence without swallowing the others.
1.Hard ch before e or i
In macchina: The spelling ch keeps a hard /k/ sound before e or i. The h helps signal the spelling pattern rather than adding a breath sound.
Watch out: Do not use the English “ch” sound from “cheese” for this ch.
2.Consonant and vowel timing
In macchina: Follow the length shown in the IPA and the recording. A doubled consonant needs a longer closure or hold before the next vowel.
Watch out: Do not insert an extra vowel to make a long consonant easier. A colon /ː/ lengthens the sound immediately before it.
3.Front-vowel position
In macchina: Listen for the distinction between the closer /i/ and the more relaxed /ɪ/ when shown. Keep your tongue toward the front.
Watch out: Do not decide vowel quality from English spelling alone.
4.An open vowel
In macchina: Open the jaw for the a-like vowel shown in the IPA. Keep it continuous and follow the recording’s tongue position.
Watch out: Do not substitute the English diphthong in “day”.
Hear it in context
Ti porto io con la macchina.
I'll take you in the car.
Listen once, say it aloud, then replay at 1.00×. Keep the word connected to the surrounding sentence rather than giving every syllable equal weight.
Pronunciation and variety
macchina is presented using Standard Italian. Regional accents and connected speech can change details. The isolated word and the example let you compare the dictionary form with a short spoken context.
The English-style respelling is approximate. Use the IPA and recording together for vowel quality and consonants that do not have an exact English equivalent.
Meaning and everyday use
Questions about macchina
How do you pronounce macchina?
macchina is pronounced /ˈmak.ki.na/ in Italian. In macchina: The spelling ch keeps a hard /k/ sound before e or i. The h helps signal the spelling pattern rather than adding a breath sound. Listen to the word on its own, then compare it with the example sentence.
What should I listen for first?
In macchina: The spelling ch keeps a hard /k/ sound before e or i. The h helps signal the spelling pattern rather than adding a breath sound. Start at 0.75×, then return to 1.00× to hear the natural rhythm.
