Italian words are divided into syllables as follows:

A single consonant goes with the following vowel.

Italian English

ca–sa house

po–si–ti–vo positive

Double consonants are divided.

Italian English

bab–bo dad

ros–so red

bel–lo beautiful

at–to act

Two consonants, the first of which is l, m, n, or r, are divided.

Italian English

al–ber–go hotel

con–ten–to contented

am–pio ample

for–tu–na fortune

Otherwise, a combination of two consonants belongs to the following syllable.

Italian English

ba–sta enough

fi–glio son

pa–dre father

ba–gno bath

so–pra above

sa–cro sacred

The first of three consonants, except s, goes with the preceding syllable.

Italian English

sem–pre always

fel–tro felt

mem–bro member

men–tre while

BUT

Italian English

fi–ne–stra window

pe–sche peaches

mi–ne–stra soup

mo–stro monster

Diphthongs and triphthongs are never divided.

Italian English

nuo–vo new

mie–le honey

per–fi–dia spite

uo–mo man

mai never

lin–gua language

suoi his

pi–gliai I took

Diphthongs may occur in stressed or unstressed syllables. However, when a diphthong is broken by stress (the vowel i or u directly bears the stress), then the two vowels break into separate syllables.

Italian English

mi–o mine

tu–o yours

spi–a spy

ma–ni–a mania

rin–vi–o postponement

te–ra–pi–a therapy

al–le–gri–a joy

far–ma–ci–a pharmacy