That means, for example, the most ubiquitous Italian word, grazie, is not pronounced grat-zee, but graht-tzee-yey —with three syllables, with the i and the e distinct from one another.

I've Lived in Italy 15+ Years—These Are the Italian Words and Phrases Every Traveler Should Know Before a Visit A little effort to speak the language can buy a whole lot of goodwill in Italy.