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How to Speak With a Fake Italian Accent

Whether it is for acting, or just to pull a prank at some friends, this article will instruct you how to re-create an Italian accent!

Steps

1. Start by modifying your vowels. Italian vowels are different than English vowels, and each letter stands distinctly as one sound.
   
   • A sounds like the ä in "Father"
     
   • E is pronounced like è in "Vendor"
     
   • I like ï in "Naive"
     
   • U is ù as in "Goo".
     
   It may sound complicated, but it isn't.
   
2. Blend your "th". Many Italians have some difficulty in pronouncing the English "th", and so pronounce it as either "t" (as in "Think"), or "d" (as in "The"), respectively.
   
3. Use simple English. Since you are pretending to be a foreigner your working knowledge of the vocabulary would not be complete.
   
4. Elongate double consonants. In Italian, words such as "Azzurro", "Pollo", or other words with double consonants are pronounced twice as long as single consonants. Thus, it would be "Bet-ter" and not "bedder".
   
5. End questions with "no?". This is an optional step, and obviously not done every time. The Italian language uses it, and thus, Italians are familiar with it. Example: "You are going later, no?"
   
6. Italians often drop the 'h' from the beginning of words.
   
7. Occasionally mistake certain sounds. Be careful with this one, as too much of it will make you pretentious! But if you want to, remember this:
   
   • GL is LL (as in "Million")
     
   • GN is ñ (as in "Canyon")
     

Tips

• Observe real Italians. This is by far the easiest way to improve your skills. Watch films with Italians and follow their speech paterns.
  
• Although the Italian E is similar to the E in "Vendor", it is slightly longer, and somewhat similar to "ay" in "Bray".
  
• Use "Eh" as a filler. Italians don't usually say "Um" or "Like".
  

Warnings

• Do not exaggerate too much! As "Italian" as you may sound, exaggeration will only result in incomprehensible speech.
  
• Use responsibly. For example read this article to prepare for a theater play, don't use it to confuse the Police.
  
• Never try to fool the native speakers. Italians will instantly mark you negatively.
   

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