Italian vowels (i vocali) are short, clear–cut, and are never drawn out. The "glide" with which English vowels frequently end should be avoided. It should be noted that a, i, u, are always pronounced the same way; e and o, on the other hand, have an open and a closed sound that may vary from one part of Italy to the other.

The approximate English equivalents are as follows:

a is like a in the English word ah!

Italian English

casa house

antipasto appetizer

ama loves

banana banana

sala hall

Papa Pope

fama fame

pasta pasta; dough; pastry

e is sometimes like e in the English word they (without the final i glide).

Italian English

e and

beve drinks

me me

fede faith

vede sees

mele apples

sete thirst

pepe pepper

e is sometimes like e in the word met. This is the open e.

Italian English

è

is

lento

slow

bene

well

festa

party; holiday

sedia

chair

presto

soon

vento

wind

tè

tea

i is like i in machine.

Italian

English

libri

books

bimbi

children

vini

wines

violini

violins

tini

vats

pini

pines