Gli and gn: one sound, several letters

Meet the distinctive consonants in famiglia, gli and bagno.

Gli is not g plus l

In famiglia, figlio and moglie, gli spells a palatal lateral /ʎ/. It is held long between vowels. It is roughly like a very close ly, but it is one palatal consonant, not English l plus y. In gli itself, a vowel i follows the consonant.

gli

palatal lateral

Gn is not g plus n

In bagno, signore and gnocchi, gn spells /ɲ/, a palatal nasal. Between vowels it is held long. Glicine is a useful exception to the gli pattern: its g and l stay separate.

palatal nasal