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

　　o is sometimes like o in the English word oh!.

　　Italian English

　　o

　　or

　　dono

　　gift

　　nome

　　name

　　solo

　　alone

　　posto

　　place

　　tondo

　　round

　　volo

　　flight

　　mondo

　　world

　　o is sometimes like o in or. This is the open o.

　　Italian English

　　moda fashion

　　toga toga

　　no no

　　oro gold

　　posta mail

　　brodo broth

　　cosa thing

　　trono throne

　　rosa rose

　　olio oil

　　u is like u in rule.

　　Italian English

　　luna moon

　　fungo mushroom

　　uno one

　　lungo long

　　fuga fugue

　　mulo mule

　　uso use

　　tubo tube