Minimal pair · Standard Italian
Italian /t/ vs /d/Initial t and d
Learn to hear the difference between t and d in Italian words.
Practice these sounds/t/
An unvoiced tongue closure
A brief stop near the front of the mouth. The target here is the first consonant.
As intetto
/d/
A voiced tongue closure
Compare this opening consonant with /t/ while keeping the rest of the word out of the decision.
As indetto
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
A small change.
A different word.
Learn to hear the difference between t and d in Italian words.
Listen for the target sound in each word.
Sound examples
Tap to hear each wordtetto
/ˈtetːo/rooftela
/ˈtela/cloth; canvastempo
/ˈtɛmpo/timeterra
/ˈtɛrːa/earthtesta
/ˈtɛsta/headdetto
/ˈdetːo/saiddente
/ˈdɛnte/toothdebito
/ˈdebito/debtdestra
/ˈdɛstra/right-hand sidedenso
/ˈdɛnso/dense10 words. Words stay hidden during practice unless you choose to reveal them.