I'm having trouble even hearing the difference (using Pimsleur) vs. "li". How is it pronounced? I suspect I also need help on how to make that sound. Gracie mille

I have always described the "gl" combination a bit like the "li" sound in "million". Think millyon.

So for "li" you hear "li" and for "gli" you hear "lyi". However, when heard spoken quickly it can be very hard to discern the difference.

I am sure some others will come up with more helpful solutions.

Best of luck, Claire.

Claire is right but I too always had a hard time changing from lyon sound to gli because the ee makes it harder. The sound requires a different mouth set. Your lips need to be wide as if you were doing one of those fake smiles models do. Your tongue just behind the tip rests on the ridge behind your teeth. As you make the lyee sound, the tongue presses a bit briefly then comes away and the sound escapes from the sides and then over the tip of your tongue.

When doing gl with other vowels (as biglietto) there isn't such a pronounced alteration of your mouth set. I know I had to practice this with a take recorder and a mirror for a couple of weeks to finally go to class making the sound to suit my professor.

I have been struggling with this too, so thanks Judith, for that excellent description!

Gli has to be one of the hardest sounds to pronounce for a new speaker of Italian.

I hate when people say it's like the li in million. That is about as easy to isolate as the gli in famiglia, which for some reason I have no trouble pronouncing.

I like SBs and Judith's alternate example.

Edited for spelling.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: David,

Just say lee but grin widely when you say it.

Whoops Judith said it already. Well, there you are. That's all there is to it.