i lunga
/i‿lˈlun.ɡa/
The name of the letter J in Italian is i lunga.
The letter J is not part of the standard Italian alphabet. It is referred to as i lunga to distinguish it from the standard letter I.
What does it mean word for word?
The name i lunga literally means 'long i'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /i‿lˈlun.ɡa/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- In some older Italian texts or specific regional names, the letter J was actually used to represent the sound of 'i' before a vowel.
- While the alphabet officially ends at z, you will often see j appear in Italian passports or legal documents to preserve the original spelling of foreign surnames.
- While the standard alphabet contains only 21 letters, the letter J is often treated as a 'foreign' guest in Italian text.
Example conversation
Francesco is helping Sofia spell a foreign name.
- FrancescoSofia, questa lettera è una i lunga.Sofia, this letter is a j.
- SofiaAh, capisco! Si pronuncia come in inglese?Oh, I see! Is it pronounced like in English?
- FrancescoSì, la i lunga suona così in questo nome.Yes, the j sounds like that in this name.
- SofiaGrazie per l'aiuto, Francesco!Thanks for the help, Francesco!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry i lunga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
