In the Italian language, some letters can sound different depending on where they are and the letters around them. This happens mainly for two reasons:

1. Letter Combinations:

   • Take the letter "c," for example. It sounds like /k/ (a hard sound) when it's before 'a,' 'o,' or 'u.'

     • For instance, in the word "casa," which means house.

   • But, when "c" is before 'e' or 'i,' it sounds like /tʃ/ (a soft sound).

     • An example is "cena," which means dinner.

   • The letter "g" works in a similar way. It sounds like /g/ (hard sound) before 'a,' 'o,' or 'u.'

     • For example, in the word "gatto," which means cat.

   • However, before 'e' or 'i,' "g" has a soft sound of /dʒ/.

     • A good example is "gelato," which means ice cream.

2. Vowel Influence:

   • Vowels can also change how they are pronounced. For example, the letter "e" can sound like /e/ (open) in the word "neta," or it can sound like /ɛ/ (closed) in "caffè."

In total, the Italian alphabet has 21 letters. Learning how these sounds change is very important for understanding and communicating in Italian.

Getting a grip on these details can really help about 85% of learners get the hang of Italian pronunciation basics.