Are you sure how to pronounce “arancini” or order Arancini di Ragù in Italian? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered! In this beginner’s guide, we will teach you the correct pronunciation of this mouthwatering Italian dish. So let’s dive in and learn how to say arancini like an Italian! Also, watch our video at the end of this post and listen to examples of Italians ordering this Sicilian delicacy. Listen to real-life examples to learn the correct Arancini Pronunciation.
How to Say Arancini? The word “arancini” is pronounced as “ah-rahn-CHEE-nee.” In this article, you will find how to correctly pronunciates the words “arancini” and “arancini di ragù”, the best Sicilian street food. Also, watch our video to listen to how Italians pronounce Arancini, Arancino, Arancina, and Arancini di Ragù.
What is Arancini?
Arancini is a popular Italian dish from the island of Sicily that consists of deep-fried rice balls filled with various ingredients such as cheese, meat, or vegetables. The word “arancini” actually means “little oranges” in Italian, which is fitting because the shape and color of the rice balls resemble small oranges. This delicious snack originated in Sicily and has since become a beloved dish in many parts of Italy and worldwide.

Arancini is the masculine plural noun form of Arancino (singular). Arancina is the femenine singular form.
Suppose you want to learn why arancini receive different names in Italian and different shapes. In that case, I recommend you follow the link to our article What is An Arancini to learn about the history behind the Sicilian rice balls.
Arancini Pronunciation
How do you pronounce arancini? How Do You Say Arancini in Italian as an English Speaker? Let’s review the sounds for arancini pronunciation as an Italian (correctly).
The correct pronunciation of arancini is ah-rahn-CHEE-nee.
A: Open “A” sound like the “A” sound in “Hat”/æ/
R: Rolled “R” sound like the “R” sound in “Run”
A: “A” sound like the “A” sound in “Above”/ə/
N: “N” sound like the “N” sound in “Name”
C: “C” sound like the “Ch” sound in “Cheese”
I: “I” sound like the “I” sound in “Sheep”
Overall, the Italian sound for “CI” of AranCIni is the sound of Chee of “cheese”.
N: “N” sound like the “N” sound in “Name”
I: “I” sound like the “I” sound in “Happy”
The emphasis is on the second syllable, and the “ch” sound is pronounced like the “chee” syllable of cheese. Remember, it’s not pronounced “ah-ran-SEE-nee”.
Don’t miss our video at the end of this post, where you will hear real examples of Italians ordering arancino in various ways.

How to Pronounce Arancini di Ragù
One of the most popular and tastier Arancini is the arancino filled with ragù. Ragù is a delicious Sicilian beef stew with tomato, peas, onions, etc. Absolutely amazing and unique.
How Do You Say Arancini di Ragù in Italian. Let’s see the sounds to pronounce Ragu as Italians.
R: Rolled “R” sound like the “R” sound in “Run”
A: Open “A” sound, like the “A” sound in “Hat”/æ/
G: “G” sound like the “G” sound in “Give”
U: “U” sound like the “UE” sound in “Blue“/uː/
The emphasis of Ragù is on the “UE” sound.
How to Say Arancino
Let’s review the sounds to pronounce arancino as an Italian.
A: Open “A” sound, like the “A” sound in “Hat”/æ/
R: Rolled “R” sound like the “R” sound in “Run”
A: “A” sound like the “A” sound in “Above”/ə/
N: “N” sound like the “N” sound in “Name”
C: “C” sound like the “Ch” sound in “Cheese”
I: “I” sound like the “I” sound in “Sheep”
Overall, the Italian sound for “CI” of AranCIni is the sound of Chee of “cheese”.
N: “N” sound like the “N” sound in “Name”
O: “O” sound like the “O” sound in “Nose”
How to Say Arancina
Let’s review the sounds to pronounce arancino as an Italian.
A: Open “A” sound, like the “A” sound in “Hat”/æ/
R: Rolled “R” sound like the “R” sound in “Run”
A: “A” sound like the “A” sound in “Above”/ə/
N: “N” sound like the “N” sound in “Name”
C: “C” sound like the “Ch” sound in “Cheese”
I: “I” sound like the “I” sound in “Sheep”
N: “N” sound like the “N” sound in “Name”
A: Open “A” sound, like the “A” sound in “Hat”/æ/
Practice saying it a few times to get the hang of it, and soon you’ll be able to order this delicious Sicilian dish without hesitation.
Video: How to Pronounce in Italian
So, How Do You Say Arancini in Italian? Watch this video and listen to real-life examples to learn the correct Arancini Pronunciation. Listen to Italians ordering this Sicilian delicacy.