/f//v/
finovino
Learn to hear the difference between f and v in Italian words.
CHOOSE A SOUND
Italian contrasts.
Start with a difference you find hard to hear. Words stay hidden during practice until you choose to show them.
Browse the examples below, then listen to A and B and match their target sound in a different word, X.
Practice
/p//b/
pancabanca
Learn to hear the difference between p and b in Italian words.
/e//ɛ/
pescapesca
Learn to hear the difference between e and ɛ in Italian words.
/o//ɔ/
bottebotte
Learn to hear the difference between o and ɔ in Italian words.
/t//d/
tettodetto
Learn to hear the difference between t and d in Italian words.
/p//pː/
papapappa
Learn to hear the difference between p and pː in Italian words.
/t//tː/
fatofatto
Learn to hear the difference between t and tː in Italian words.
/k//kː/
focapacca
Learn to hear the difference between k and kː in Italian words.
/l//lː/
palapalla
Learn to hear the difference between l and lː in Italian words.
/n//nː/
penapenna
Learn to hear the difference between n and nː in Italian words.
A CLOSER LISTEN
What is a
minimal pair?
Two words form a minimal pair when one sound difference changes the word. Keeping the surrounding sounds the same gives you a specific difference to listen for.
Some lessons focus on tone or word stress instead of a single consonant or vowel. We label those separately, so you know what each exercise is testing.
In the exercise, listen to A and B, then a different word X. Choose the reference that shares the target sound, tone, stress or consonant feature. Words and IPA stay hidden unless you enable text hints, including after answering; you can replay the audio whenever you need it.
Read about the learning approach