What's the pronunciation of "Ciao"?

Status
Not open for further replies.

rehte

New member
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
How do you pronounce "Ciao"?
Some of my foreign colleagues use this word for greetings in their emails. What is its pronunciation? I am very puzzled.
Thanks.
 

shalstudent

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2007
Member Type
Teacher (Other)
Native Language
Malayalam
Home Country
India
Current Location
India
Its pronounced as "Chou".
"Ch" as in Channel and "Ou" as in "owl".
It is used either as a greeting or parting such as goodbye.
 

rehte

New member
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
Thank you very much!:)
It is not like a traditional English word.
 

CJ 4 life

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Italian
Home Country
Italy
Current Location
Italy
Its pronounced as "Chou".
"Ch" as in Channel and "Ou" as in "owl".
It is used either as a greeting or parting such as goodbye.
Absolutely incorrect. Its pronounciation includes 3 sounds. The first one is the "ch" of "channel", the second one is a "ah" as in the first part of the diphthong in "out", and the third one is a closed "o", like the first part of the diphthong in "know" (in American English of course). Just produce the three sounds one after the other.
I'm Italian, so I know this stuff.
 

Anglika

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Member Type
Other
Absolutely incorrect. Its pronunciation includes 3 sounds. The first one is the "ch" of "channel", the second one is a "ah" as in the first part of the diphthong in "out", and the third one is a closed "o", like the first part of the diphthong in "know" (in American English of course). Just produce the three sounds one after the other.
I'm Italian, so I know this stuff.

Ah - but will an American [or a Brit] pronounce it in this way?
 

dancewnd!

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
the correct pronounciation is /t∫aυ/.... it is used especially in informal conversation...
:)
 

CJ 4 life

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Italian
Home Country
Italy
Current Location
Italy
the correct pronounciation is /t∫aυ/.... it is used especially in informal conversation...
:)
Incorrect again! The final sound is a closed "o", not a "u"!!!
Anglika said:
Ah - but will an American [or a Brit] pronounce it in this way?
I don't know, never heard an American (or Brit) pronounce it.
 
D

dOlier

Guest
Ah - but will an American [or a Brit] pronounce it in this way?

Yes!
At least this Hiberno-English speaker pronounces two vowels: ah oh
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
Absolutely incorrect. Its pronounciation includes 3 sounds. The first one is the "ch" of "channel", the second one is a "ah" as in the first part of the diphthong in "out", and the third one is a closed "o", like the first part of the diphthong in "know" (in American English of course). Just produce the three sounds one after the other.
I'm Italian, so I know this stuff.
Naturally, you're right. But you'll have as much hope of getting English people to say it that way as you would have getting them not to pronounce the 'i' in names like Giovanni and Giuseppe. :)
 

CJ 4 life

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Italian
Home Country
Italy
Current Location
Italy
Naturally, you're right. But you'll have as much hope of getting English people to say it that way as you would have getting them not to pronounce the 'i' in names like Giovanni and Giuseppe. :)
Looking up in the English dictionary, I found the "ch ah u" writing. So we can say that there are two ways to pronounce it: the Italian one (where the words comes from) and the American one, even though the two pronunciation are very very close to each other (you may not notice it).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top