[i-tal-yuh
n] 
| 1. | of or pertaining to Italy, its people, or their language. |
| 2. | a native or inhabitant of Italy, or a person of Italian descent. |
| 3. | a Romance language, the language of Italy, official also in Switzerland. Abbreviation: It, It., Ital. |
[ahy] sound (pronounced like the word eye) and often with level stress on the first and second syllables: [ahy-tal-yuhn] is heard primarily from uneducated speakers. This pronunciation is sometimes facetious or disparaging in purpose and is usually considered offensive.| I·tal·ian (ĭ-tāl'yən) adj. Of or relating to Italy or its people, language, or culture. n.
[Middle English, from Latin Italiānus, from Italia, Italy.] |
