Homographs Stressed on Different Syllables
Homographs are words written alike but pronounced differently.
We divided them in two groups:
1) those with the accent on the same syllable (v. "Homographs with closed and open vowel");
2) and those stressed on different syllables (this list).
There are not many of these words in Italian and context usually helps understand their real meaning; however, the different pronunciation might create misunderstandings or involuntary comic effects.
Please note that pronunciation can vary from region to region and educated speakers of certain regions may not follow the standard pronunciation given below.
For regional differences in pronunciation, see "L'italiano e i dialetti", published by Centro Studi Italiani as part of the Italian Readings on Tape series.
To find the infinitive of verb forms and a larger number of homograph verb forms, see "La ricerca dell'infinito", published by Centro Studi Italiani. For word stress position in homograph forms of conjugated verbs (perdóno/perdonò), see "Le coniugazioni chiavi", published by Centro Studi Italiani.
One of the most common cases of resemblance is between the second person singular of the imperative and the past participle.
Example:
| Vèstiti in fretta | Get dressed at once |
| (Si sono) vestìti in fretta | (They) got dressed in a hurry |
NOTA BENE: we indicate only one of several possible English equivalents for the following words.
| Italian | English Equivalent | Italian | English Equivalent | Italian | English Equivalent |
| àdito | entrance | adìto | started legal proceedings | _____ | _____ |
| abbàglio (l') | blunder | abbaglìo (l') | dazzle | _____ | _____ |
| abbàino | (that) they bark | abbaìno (l') | attic | _____ | _____ |
| abbàio | I bark | abbaìo (l') | barking | _____ | _____ |
| abbarbàglio | I dazzle | abbarbaglìo (l') | dazzle | _____ | _____ |
| abìlita | it qualifies | abilità (l') | ability | _____ | _____ |
| àbitino (l') | (that) they live | abitìno | simple/nice dress | _____ | _____ |
| àbito (l') | suit, dress | abitò | s/he lived | _____ | _____ |
| abòmini | you hate | abomìni (gli) | abominations | _____ | _____ |
| accòmodati | come
in, make yourself comfortable |
accomodàti | repaired | _____ | _____ |
| accòrdio (l') | small hand organ | accordìo (l') | tuning (obsolete) | _____ | _____ |
| adùlteri | adulterous | adultèri | adulteries | _____ | _____ |
| àgito | I shake | agìto | acted | agitò | s/he shook |
| aguzzìno | slave driver | agùzzino | that they sharpen | ||
| àltero | I alter | altèro | proud | alterò | s/he altered |
| àmbito (l') | circle, sphere | ambìto | sought after | _____ | _____ |
| àncora (l') | anchor | ancóra | still, yet | _____ | _____ |
| àrbitri | referee | arbìtri | liberty | _____ | _____ |
| àrista | chine of pork | arìsta | ear of corn | _____ | _____ |
| asfìssia | it asphyxiates | asfissìa | asphyxia | _____ | _____ |
| attàcchino | (that) they attack/affix | attacchìno (l') | bill-poster | _____ | _____ |
| àuguri (gli) | augurs | augùri | wishes | __________ | |
| àvaro (l') | Avar | avàro | stingy | _____ | _____ |
| bàcino | (that) they kiss | bacìno (il) | basin | _____ | _____ |
| bàcio | kiss | bacìo | facing north | _____ | _____ |
| bàglio (l') | dazzle | baglìo (l') | dazzling | _____ | _____ |
| bàlia (la) | wet nurse | balìa (la) | power | _____ | _____ |
| bàlzano | they jump | balzàno | odd | _____ | _____ |
| bécchino (beccare) | that they peck | becchìno | undertaker | __________ | |
| benèfici | charitable | benefìci (i) | benefits | _____ | _____ |
| bòccino | (that) they reject | boccìno (il) | small bocce ball | _____ | _____ |
| bràmino | (that) they crave for | bramìno (il) | Brahmin | _____ | _____ |
| bùchino | (that) they make a hole | buchìno | small hole | ||
| bùttero (il) | cowboy | butterò | I will throw | _____ | _____ |
| calàmita | s/he attracts | calamìta (la) | magnet | calamità (la) | calamity |
| càlzino | they wear | calzìno | sock | _____ | _____ |
| càmbiale | change them | cambiàle (la) | bill, I.O.U. | _____ | _____ |
| càmpano | they live | campàno | pertaining to (or native of) the region of Campania | _____ | _____ |
| cànone | Canon, (monthly/yearly )flat fee | canòne | big dog | ||
| càntino | (that) they sing | cantìno (il) | high E string of violin or guitar | _____ | _____ |
| càpitano | they happen | capitàno (il) | captain | capitanò | s/he lead |
| càpito | I arrive | capìto | understood | capitò | s/he arrived |
| capìtolo (il) | chapter | capitolò | s/he capitulated | _____ | _____ |
| circùito (il) | circuit | circuìto | deceived | _____ | _____ |
| colònia | colony | colonìa | farming contract | _____ | _____ |
| cómpito (il) | task | compìto | polite | compitò | s/he spelled out |
| condòmini (i) | co-owners | condomìni (i) | condominiums | _____ | _____ |
| crògiolo (crogiolare) | I cook on a small fire | crogiòlo (dell'altoforno) | crucible | _____ | _____ |
| cucìnino | (that) they cook | cucinìno (il) | kitchenette | _____ | _____ |
| dècade (la) | decade | decàde | it declines | _____ | _____ |
| desìderi | you desire | desidèri (i) | desires | _____ | _____ |
| dèstino | (that) they wake up | destìno (il) | destiny | destinò | s/he destined |
| diménticati | forget it | dimenticàti | forgotten | _____ | _____ |
| esàmino | I examine | esamìno (l') | short exam | esaminò | s/he examined |
| ètere (l') | ether | etère (le) | hetaera | _____ | _____ |
| férmati | stop | fermàti | stopped | _____ | _____ |
| fòrmica (la) | Formica (brand name) | formìca (la) | ant | _____ | _____ |
| frùstino | (that) they whip | frustìno (il) | riding-whip | _____ | _____ |
| gorghéggio | trill | gorgheggìo | trilling | gorgheggiò | trilled |
| gorgóglio | gurgle | gorgoglìo | gurgling | gorgogliò | gurgled |
| gràvita | s/he gravitates | gravità (la) | gravity | _____ | _____ |
| guài (i) | troubles | guaì | it yelped | _____ | _____ |
| ìmpari | unequal | impàri | you learn | _____ | _____ |
| ìndice (l') | index | indìce | s/he proclaims | _____ | _____ |
| ìndico | I indicate | indìco | I proclaim | _____ | _____ |
| ìntimo | intimate | intìmo | I order | intimò | s/he ordered |
| intùito (l') | intuition | intuìto | perceived | _____ | _____ |
| inùmano (inumare) | they bury | inumàno (crudèle) | inhuman | _____ | _____ |
| ìsolano | they isolate | isolàno (l') | islander | _____ | _____ |
| lèggere | to read | leggère | light | _____ | _____ |
| leggèro | light | leggerò | I will read | _____ | _____ |
| lièvita | s/he rises | lievità (la) | levity | _____ | _____ |
| lùstrino | that they shine | lustrìno | sequin | ||
| malèdico | slanderous | maledìco | I curse | _____ | _____ |
| màrtiri | martyrs | martìri (supplizi) | martyrdom | _____ | _____ |
| méndico | I beg | mendìco (il) | beggar | mendicò | s/he begged |
| mèrce | goods | mercè | pity | ||
| mèta | goal | metà | half | ||
| mondàno | mundane | mòndano | they clean | ||
| mugòlio (il) | plant extract (from a variety of pine) | mugolìo (il) | whining, moaning | _____ | _____ |
| nèttare (il) | nectar | nettàre | to clean | _____ | _____ |
| nòcciolo (il) | fruit stone | nocciòlo (il) | hazel | _____ | _____ |
| Omèro | Homer | òmero | humerus | ||
| òccupati | (you) see to it | occupàti | busy | _____ | _____ |
| onèsta | honest | onestà (l') | honesty | _____ | _____ |
| òvvia | obvious | ovvìa | come on! | _____ | _____ |
| Òvvio (scontato) | obvious | ovvìo (ovviare) | I remedy | _____ | _____ |
| pàgano | they pay | pagàno | pagan | _____ | _____ |
| pànico | panic | panìco | foxtail millet | _____ | _____ |
| pàpa | pope | papà | daddy | ||
| pàssero (il) | sparrow | passerò | I will go by | _____ | _____ |
| pàssino | that they go by | passìno (il) | strainer | _____ | _____ |
| pàttino | I skate | pattìno (il) | type of rowboat | pattinò | s/he skated |
| pèrdono | they lose | perdóno (il) | pardon | perdonò | s/he pardoned |
| péro (il) | pear tree | però | but, however | _____ | _____ |
| perséguito | I persecute | perseguìto | pursued | perseguitò | s/he persecuted |
| pòrtale | bring them | portàle (il) | portal | _____ | _____ |
| prèdica (la) | sermon | predìca | that s/he foretell | _____ | _____ |
| prèdico | I preach | predìco | I predict | predicò | s/he preached |
| prèsidi (delle scuole) | principals | presìdi (difese, aiuti) | garrisons | _____ | _____ |
| prèsso | near | pressò | s/he pressed | _____ | _____ |
| prìncipi (i) | princes | princìpi (i) | principles | _____ | _____ |
| pròtesi (la) | prosthesis | protési | stretched | _____ | _____ |
| pròvino | (that) they try | provìno (il) | screen-test | _____ | _____ |
| ràschio | clearing of one's throat | raschìo | scraping | _____ | _____ |
| rasségnati | (you) accept it | rassegnàti | resigned | _____ | _____ |
| règia | regal | regìa (la) | movie/stage direction | _____ | _____ |
| rètina | retina | retìna | hair-net | _____ | _____ |
| rùbino | (that) they steal | rubìno (il) | ruby | _____ | _____ |
| Sàra | Proper name | sarà | It will be | _____ | _____ |
| scàldino | (that) they heat | scaldìno (lo) | brazier | _____ | _____ |
| scàmpano | they escape | scampàno | I flare (a skirt) | _____ | _____ |
| scàrtino | (that) they discard | scartìno (lo) | slip sheet | _____ | _____ |
| scrìvano | (that) they write | scrivàno (lo) | copyist | _____ | _____ |
| sdrùcio | tear, rip | sdrucìo | ripping | _____ | _____ |
| sciàmano | they swarm | sciamàno | shaman | _____ | _____ |
| séguito (il) | entourage | seguìto | followed | seguitò | s/he continued |
| spìano | they spy | spiàno | I level | spianò | he leveled |
| stànzino | (that) they allocate | stanzìno (lo) | small storage room | _____ | _____ |
| stropìccio (stropicciare) | I rub | stropiccìo (lo) | rubbing | _____ | _____ |
| sùbito | at once | subìto | endured | _____ | _____ |
| témperino | (that) they temper | temperìno | pocket knife | ||
| tèndine (il) | tendon | tendìne (le) | window curtains | _____ | _____ |
| tèrmite | termite | termìte | termite | _____ | _____ |
| tèste | witness | testè | a short time ago | ||
| tórtore | doves | tortóre | club, baton | _____ | _____ |
| tràttino | that they treat | trattìno (il) | dash, hyphen | _____ | _____ |
| tùrbina | it whirls | turbìna (la) | turbine | _____ | _____ |
| tùrbine (il) | whirl | turbìne (le) | turbines | _____ | _____ |
| unìta | united | unità | unity | ||
| vàluta | s/he values | valùta | currency | _____ | _____ |
| venèfici | poisonous | venefìci (i) | poisonings | _____ | _____ |
| vicària | vicarious | vicarìa | vicariate | _____ | _____ |
| vìola | s/he violates | viòla (la) | violet; viola (mus. instr.) | _____ | _____ |
| vìolino | (that) they violate | violìno (il) | violin | _____ | _____ |
| vìolo | I violate | viòlo | violet (dialect) | violò | s/he violated |
| vólano | they fly | volàno (il) | fly-wheel | _____ | _____ |
 |
|||
|