MediumDouble consonants
Filippo offre affetto e caffè, Raffaella soffre il freddo e sbuffa.
Filippo offers affection and coffee, Raffaella suffers the cold and huffs.
Pronunciation Focus
FF vs F distinction
Tip for English Speakers
💡For FF, sustain the friction of air between your upper teeth and lower lip. The airflow should last noticeably longer than for a single F.
Did You Know?
Italian has many common words with FF: 'caffè' (coffee), 'ufficio' (office), 'difficile' (difficult), 'effetto' (effect). English speakers often miss the doubling because English doesn't distinguish them.
How to Practice
- 1.Read it slowly, word by word
- 2.Speed up gradually
- 3.Try saying it 3 times fast
- 4.Record yourself and compare