A Comparative Study Guide Spanish to English to Italian

Campos

Introduction

This guide is alphabetical, A through Z, with each letter comprising a separate listing, further divided into three sections: words that are interchangeable among the three languages; nouns, adjectives and adverbs that contain easily recognizable and equivalent meanings; and, verbs with easily recognizable and equivalent meanings.

Spanish is the language base for this guide. The Spanish listings are followed by their English definitions which include all relevant English meanings. The Italian is then matched to the Spanish listings and their English definitions, for example:

The Spanish word > JUSTICIA, justice, equity, fairness

^

The English definition

The Italian word > GIUSTIZIA

This guide’s primary purpose is to provide English speaking students of Spanish and Italian with a quick and resourceful vocabulary base. Conversely, the guide’s design will introduce Spanish and Italian speaking students to the English or the Spanish or the Italian vocabulary.

Not all possible words that fit this guide’s purpose are listed. Only the most obvious and useful words were selected. The student is given space in the guide to augment the listings with additional words of particular interest, making this guide a personal workbook.

All Spanish words are given the general or specific meanings of Spanish currently spoken in Argentina. The Italian is that which is currently spoken in Italy.

Spanish is the language to which the English definitions and the equivalent Italian are compared.

Following are pronunciation guides for Spanish, English and Italian.

Spanish Pronunciation Guide fo English speakers

The vowels a, e, and o are strong vowels, i and u are weak. When two vowels fall together the following applies: if the word has an accent mark, then that syllable is stressed (cóncavo, enfermería); a weak + strong combination belongs to one syllable with the stress falling on the strong vowel (cauto, caliente); a weak + weak combination belongs to one syllable with the stress falling on the second vowel (construir, cuidado); and, a strong + strong combination is divided into two syllables.( aca-rre- ar, co-rre-a )

A: as the a in father

B,v: when found at the beginning of a word or following a consonant, these are pronounced as a b. Otherwise, they have a sound which falls somewhere between the English b and v sounds.

C: before a consonant or a, o, or u, as the c in cat; before e or i as an s

CH: as the ch in church

D: as the English d except between vowels and following l or n where it is pronounced as the th in this

E: for a syllable ending in a vowel, as the e in they; for a syllable ending in a consonant, as the e in get

F: as the f in for

G: before e or i, as the Spanish j; otherwise as the g in get

H: silent

I: as i in machine

J: as an h but stronger; silent when at the end of a word

K: as the k in kilo

L: as an l in lee

LL: as the y in you. However, in Argentina it is pronounced as sh in shoe

M: as an m in mother

N: as an n; except where it appears before a v, as an m

Ñ: as the n in onion

O: for a syllable ending in a vowel, as the o in vote; for a syllable ending in a consonant, as the o in pot

P: as a p in pot

Q: as a k; always followed by a silent u

R: pronounced with a strong trill at the beginning of a word and following an l, n, or s; very little trill when at the end of a word; and medium trill in other positions

RR: strongly trilled

S: before consonants b, d, g, l, m, n, as a z; otherwise as an s

T: as a t

U: as the u in rule; silent after q and in the groups gue and gui

V: see b, v

W: usually pronounced as a v

X: when between vowels, as the x in box; before a consonant, as an s

Y: when used as a vowel, such as in the words y and voy, it is pronounced as the Spanish i. As a consonant it is pronounced as Y in yes

Z: as an s

English Pronunciation Guide for Spanish speakers

Algunas letras en Inglés tienen varias formas de pronunciación. Los sonidos proporcionados en Español son sólo una aproximación.

Letra en Inglés - Sonido aproximado - Ejemplo

A = a como en arco - car

e como eco - many

(antes de consonante + e final) - ei como en peine - fate

(entre consonantes) - ai como ei en peine - rain

au similar a la a de bata - cause

B = como en bomba - boy

C = (antes de a, o, u) - como en cama - cat

(antes de e, i) - como en cena - cereal

ch como en cheque - check

D = como en doble - David

dge como en ya - knowledge

E = entre a y e - thanks

e como en estar - let

i como en cinco - he, be

(final de monosílabo) - iu como en diurno - new, few

(final de la palabra) - (muda) - fine, live

(antes de t, d) - ea como i en rival - read, eat

ea como ei en rey- great

ea como e en error - sweater

(después de consonante) - ee como i en kilo - bee, see

ei como i en nido - neither

ei como ei en peine - eight

F = como en fallo - face

G = (antes de a, o, u) - como en gato - game

(antes de e, i) - entre "ch y y" - George

(al final de palabra) - gh se pronuncia f como en faro – laugh

gh (es muda) - ghost

H = (como en j suave) - gente, jaula - home

I = i (pero más relajada) - sister

(final de la sílaba) - ai como en vaina - hi

i como en niño - marine

ie como i en nido - field

ie como en ai en vaina - pie

J = como en ya (entre "ch y y") - jaguar

K = (antes de n) - como en cama - keep

(es muda) - known

L = como en limón - limb

ll como "l" en catálogo - villa

M = como en madre - mail

N = como en nada - never

O = (entre consonantes) - a como en habla - not

(después de d, t) - u como en uso - to, do

au como en Laura - how

(final de la palabra) - o alargada "ou" - hello

(entre consonante y t final) - oa como o (pero más alargada) - coat

oo como en u en pulso - food

oo como en u en pulso (pero más relajada) – good

ou como en u en pulso – you

ou como au en Laura – round

ou como en a (pero más relajada) - tough

P = como en pobre - stop

ph como f en foca - telephone

Q = qu como en cual - quack

R = como en raro - race

S = (principio o final de sílaba) - como en siempre - same

(entre vocales) - como en zumbido - rose

(antes de ure) - ¡shhh! - sure

sh como en ¡shhh! - shoes

T = (principio o final de sílaba) - como en tarea - top, correct

(antes de ion) - ¡shhh! - condition

(antes de ure) - como en mucho - nature

(en verbos, sustantivos, etc.) - th como z en zapato - thanks

(en artículos como la, pronombres, etc.) - th como d en lad - the

U = (antes de consonante + e final) - iu como en diurno - excuse

u como en pulso (más relajada) - put

u como en pulso - attitude

a (más relajada) - under

V = como en vino - valet

W = como en huevo - weapon

(antes de o) - wh como j en jugo - who

(antes de a, i, e) - wh como w en whiskey - white, where

X = (al principio de palabra) - z como en zinc - xylophone

( cuando va entre vocales) - se pronuncia gs - exempt

(en los demás casos) - como en exacto - box

Y = (final de palabra después de consonante) - ai como en vaina - my, by

(principio de la palabra) - como en ya (muy suave) - yellow

Z = como en zumbido - zoo

Italian Pronunciation Guide

The base alphabet consists of 21 letters and five vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and 16 consonants. Letters J, K, W, X and Y are not part of the proper alphabet, and are used only for loanwords and foreign names.

Italian has just 7 vowel sounds. When two or more vowels occur in a row, they are always pronounced separately, as in Australia (a-u-stra-li-a).

Most consonants are pronounced as in English, except: C, G, H, R, S, and Z.

A: long like a in father

B: as the b in balloon

C: 1. before i or e like ch in church

2. otherwise like c in car

D: as the d in death

E: 1. (open) like e in set

2. (closed) like a in say

F: as the f in fair

G: 1. before i or e like g in gem

2. otherwise like g in goal

H: h is always silent

I: like ee in meet

L: like l in liquid

M: like m in machine

N: like n in navy

O: 1. (open) like o in pot

2. (closed) like o in post

P: as p in pizza

Q: the q is a surplus letter with the same sound of hard "c". It is used only, but not always, when followed by approximant u. Example: quando, acqua

R: rolled like r in Spanish

S: 1. between vowels like s in snake

2. otherwise like s in sit

T: like t in treasure

U: like oo in food

V: like v in vision

Z: 1. at beginning of words like ds in pads

2. otherwise like ts in cats

Combinations

CH: like c in car

GH: like g in goal

GN: like ny in canyon or like ñ in Spanish

GLI: like lli in million

SC: 1. before i or e like sh in shut

2. otherwise like sk in skip

The signs and symbols appearing in this guide are identified as follows:

(AERO) = aeronautics

(AGRIC) = agriculture

(ANAT) = anatomical

(ARCHIT) = architecture

(ARTE) = art, artistic

(ASTROL) = astrology

(ASTRON) = astronomy

(AUTO) = automotive

(BIOL) = biology

(BOT) = botany

(CINE) = cinema

(COM) = commercial

(DEP) = sports

(DER) = legal

(ECON) = economics

(ELECTR) = electrical

(FIN) = financial

(FIS) = physics

(FOTO) = photography

(GEN) = general meaning

(GEOG) = geography

(GEOL) = geology

(GRAM) = grammar

(INFORM) = inf. technology

(LITER) = literature

(MAT) = mathematics

(MECAN) = mechanical

(MED) = medical

(METEO) = meteorological

(MIL) = military

(MUS) = music

(NAUT) = nautical

(POL) = politics

(QUIM) = chemistry

(RELIG) = religion

(TECNOL) = technology

(ZOOL) = zoology

(A) = the feminine ending

(adj) = adjective

(adv) = adverb

(f) = feminine

(m) = masculine

(n) = noun

ó = or

os = oneself

s = plural

sb = somebody

sthg = something

ú = or

A

Interchangeable Spanish-English words and their Italian equivalents

Palabras intercambiables en Español-Inglés y sus equivalentes en Italiano

Parole intercambiabili in Spagnolo-Inglese e le loro equivalenti in Italiano

ADAGIO (MUS)

AD HOC

AEROSOL

AGENDA

AIRBAG

ALBINO (A)

ÁLBUM/ALBUM

ALGA, alga, seaweed

ÁLGEBRA/ALGEBRA

ALTER EGO

AMEBA ó AMOEBA

AMEN

ANACONDA

ANDANTE (MUS)

ANEMIA

ÁNGELUS (RELIG)

ANGINA

ANGORA

ANTENATAL, prenatal

AORTA

APARTHEID

ÁREA/AREA

ARIA

ARMADILLO

AROMA

AU PAIR

AUDIO

AUTO

AUTOCLAVE (MED)

AZALEA

Easily recognizable Spanish-English nouns, adjectives and adverbs and their Italian equivalents

Nombres, sustantivos, adjetivos y adverbios en Español-Inglés y sus equivalentes en Italiano

Nomi, sostantivi, aggettivi e avverbi in Spagnolo-Inglese e le loro equivalenti in Italiano

ABANDONADO (A), abandoned, deserted; derelict

ABBANDONATO (A), abandoned

ABANDONO, abandonment, desertion, neglect

ABBANDONO, desertion, abandonment

ABATIDO (A), depressed

DEPRESSO (A), depressed

ABATIMIENTO, depression

DEPRESSIONE, depression (MED) (METEO)

SCONFORTO, dejection, despondency

ABDICACIÓN, abdication

ABDICAZIONE, abdication

RINÙNCIA/RINÙNZIA, renunciation

ABDOMEN, abdomen

ADDOME

ABERRACIÓN, aberration; departure, lapse

ABERRAZIONE, aberration

ABERRANTE, aberrant

ABERRANTE

ABISMAL, vast, enormous; irreconcilable

ABISSALE, abysmal, profound

ABISMO, abyss, chasm

ABISSO, abyss, gulf

ABLATIVO, ablative

ABLATIVO

ABLUCIÓN, ablution

ABLUZIONE

ABNEGACIÓN, abnegation, self-denial ... ABNEGADO (A), self-denying, self-sacrificing;

ABNEGAZIONE, abnegation

(SEE DISGUSTADO)

ABOLICIÓN, abolition, elimination, termination

ABOLIZIONE

ABOMINACIÓN, abomination

ABOMINAZIONE

ABOMINABLE, abominable

ABOMINEVOLE

ABORTO, abortion; miscarriage

ABORTO

ABRASIVO (A), abrasive; grinding; harsh, hurtful

ABRASIVO (A) (n)

ABRIL, April

APRILE

ABSCESO, abscess

ASCESSO

ABSENTISMO, absenteeism

ASSENTEISMO

ABSOLUTAMENTE, absolutely

ASSOLUTAMENTE

ABSOLUTO (A), absolute, perfect, unqualified

ASSOLUTO (A), absolute

ABSORBENCIA, absorbency ... ABSORBENTE, absorbent;

interesting, absorbing;

ASSORBENTE, absorbent

(SEE INTERESANTE)

ABSORTO (A), absorbed, engrossed, involved, immersed

ASSORTO (A), absorbed/engrossed in

COINVOLGIMENTO, involvement

(SEE INMERSO)

ABSTEMIO (A), teetotaler

ASTEMIO (A, MI, MIE)

ABSTENCIÓN, abstention

ASTENSIONE

ABSTINENCIA, abstinence, self-denial, temperance

ASTINENZA, abstinence

ABSTRACCIÓN, abstraction

ASTRAZIONE

ABSTRACTO (A), abstract

ASTRATTO (A)

ABSTRUSO (A), abstruse, obscure, profound

ASTRUSO (A), abstruse

(SEE PROFUNDO, OCULTO)

ABSURDO (A), absurd, ridiculous, nonsense

ASSURDO (A), absurd

(SEE RIDÍCULO, RIDICULEZ)

ABUNDANCIA, abundance, plenty; affluent

ABBONDANZA, abundance, plenty

ABUNDANTE, abundant, plentiful

ABBONDANTE

ABUSIVO (A), exorbitant

ESORBITANTE, exorbitant; excessive

ABUSO, abuse, overuse, misuse

ABUSO, excessive use; abuse, misuse

ABYECTO (A), vile, wretched, abject

ABIETTO (A), abject, wretched; despicable, vile

DISGRAZIATO (A), miserable, pitiable, wretched

ACADEMIA, academy, school

ACCADEMIA

ACCESIBLE, accessible; approachable; affordable

ACCESSIBILE, accessible; approachable

ACCESO, access; entrance, entry; admittance

ACCESSO, access

ACCESORIO (A), accessory, incidental, extra

ACCESSORIO (A, RI, RIE), secondary; accessory

ACCIDENTADO (A), rough, uneven

ACCIDENTATO (A), uneven, rough

ACCIDENTAL, accidental

ACCIDENTALE

ACCIDENTALMENTE, accidentally, unintentionally

ACCIDENTALMENTE, by chance; accidentally, by accident

INVOLONTARIAMENTE, unintentionally