Italian · Difficult words
How to pronounce specchio in Italian
specchio
Mirror
Standard Italian · Choose 1.00× to hear the original pace.
specchio is pronounced /ˈspɛk.kjo/ in Italian. In specchio: 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 specchio
Read specchio in these IPA segments: ˈspɛk · kjo. 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 specchio: 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 specchio: 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.A steady /o/ vowel
In specchio: Round the lips and keep the tongue toward the back for a steady /o/. Follow the length indicated in the transcription.
Watch out: Avoid automatically turning a single /o/ into the moving vowel of English “go”.
4.The open /ɛ/ vowel
In specchio: Keep the vowel open, like the vowel in many pronunciations of English “bed”, without a final glide.
Watch out: Avoid turning this vowel into English “ay”.
Hear it in context
Mi guardo allo specchio prima di uscire.
I look at myself in the mirror before going out.
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
specchio 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 specchio
How do you pronounce specchio?
specchio is pronounced /ˈspɛk.kjo/ in Italian. In specchio: 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 specchio: 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.
