Qu- or cu-?
The letter combinations cu- and qu- are pronounced in a similar way:
il quesito ; il custode ; la qualità ; la cupola
the question; the custodian; the quality; the dome
Generally speaking:
- the letters qu- are pronounced “kw” and are followed by a vowel. Typically, the u is pronounced less strongly and the emphasis falls on the following vowel.
il quadro ; la querela ; il Quirinale
the painting; the complaint; the Quirinal Palace
- the letters cu- are generally pronounced “koo” and are followed by a consonant. Typically, the emphasis falls on the u.
il cumulo ; la cuccia ; la cute
the heap; the kennel; the skin
Some words are an exception to this rule and are written with cu- + vowel. There is no standard rule governing their pronunciation (some are pronounced “kw” and some “koo”), but these are the most common examples:
cui ; cuocere ; il cuoco ; il cuoio ; la scuola ; il circuito
whom, whose; to cook; the cook; the hide; the school; the circuit
Notes:
- there is never a double q in Italian, with only one exception:
soqquadro
disarray
- all words deriving from acqua (water) and acquisto (purchase) are written with -cqu-, which has a more emphatic pronunciation, similar to a double c.
l'acquolina ; l'acquirente ; l'acquitrino ; acquistare
the drool; the buyer; the marsh; to purchase
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