OK I'm sure I have posted on this one before but I just couldn't find my post. Plus I know others have posted on this too but I am still having trouble even after the posts that I have read.

I read that it is like the li sound in million but I really can't isolate that sound. Unless I have been saying "million" wrong for all of my life.

If I get an answer then I can explian "beating a dead horse"

I had lunch with an American friend today who is my no means an expert with four years of university level Italian and study in Italy. He says it is pronounced "yee" just like an Asian last name.

Sure enough, I was listening to a tape. When the woman pronounced "gli", it certainly sounded like "yee" but when the man pronounced it there was what sounded like a l component to the front end, barely detectable but it was there.

I did some searching on the Internet and discovered an explanation that it was pronounced "l-yee".

Sorry for bringing this up again but I am very confused. How do I pronounce this word??

lyee, but combine the l and y in your mouth.
You have to isolate that sound from the middle of million. It IS there.
So, how are you doing with biglietto? Is that easier because it is in the middle?

I'm not sure if this will be helpful, but I've always associated this kind of "silent g" in Italian as doing the same thing as the "ñ" in spanish. Think of the word "gnocchi".... it would sound the same as if it were spelled "ñocchi". It would also sound the same spelled "nyocchi".

Stay with me here. I am getting to a point.

Take that "formula", if you will, and apply it to the letter "l" instead of "n". The word "gli" would sound the same as "lyi" or, like above posts "lyee".

If that doesn't work... try saying an Italian last name like "Castiglione" (cast-ilyee-o-ne) over and over again. It may help if you say this sound when it's in the middle of a word... not the only sound of the word.

You'll pick it up eventually good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by decobabe:
lyee, but combine the l and y in your mouth.
You have to isolate that sound from the middle of million. It IS there.
So, how are you doing with biglietto? Is that easier because it is in the middle?

This is probably the best explanation (at least for me) that I have heard so far. The mixing of the ly sound explanation helps. , But instead of biglietto what about famglia? Probably a more recognizable word. I assume this is the same sound? And you are right when it comes in the middle, it is easier to say somehow. That is assuming I am saying that word correctly!

Thanks to everyone for their help once again.

quote:

Originally posted by spinnaker: But instead of biglietto what about famglia? Probably a more recognizable word.

Yes, spinnaker, "famiglia" would be the same gli sound. Just stick with it, it's definitely a tough one. IMHO, it's probably the most difficult Italian sound for a native English-speaker to master, especially when dealing with the article "gli" on its own (as opposed to in the middle of a word). I've always found piccolina's trick of thinking of it as the "l" equivalent of the spanish "ñ" to be helpful, too, both in practicing it, and in explaining it. That said, I've been trying off and on (ok, mostly off!) to get my tongue around that "gli" for 30 years, and am still not sure I've got it right!

i've heard that in napoli they pronounce it li, so maybe i should just move there and i won't have to worry about it, haha. although i don't think it's the hardest sound for a native english speaker, well at least for me the hardest is definately r when placed after a d or t. i can't get my tongue to go from making a d or t sound to rolling the r.

Pull your face into a tight wide grin, so much so that your neck muscles are tight. Now say "lee". Notice that your tounge gently clicks a bit when letting go of the L.

Liked your theory Di!
I hope my guests are not arriving now when my face shows a tight wide grin and I try to say "lee" with a little click of the tongue
It's so difficould to explain how to pronounce a sound... and the "gli" is probably one of the toughest! (but your methods sound very interesting and very helpful!)