The correct Italian pronunciation would be roh-SEH-toh; however, Italian names used in the U.S. are usually anglicized. So, it is very possible that the locals of Roseto, PA pronounce their town roh-ZET-oh.

We Americans of Italian descent are notorious for mispronouncing names, as most of us never learned Italian at home (or if we did, it was a poorly-pronounced dialect learned orally.) We also tend to use English as a guideline. For example, the Italian surname Pace is not pronounced the English way (to mean "step or stride", and which rhymes with "mace", for example), but is actually pronounced "PAH-cheh," which means "peace" in Italian.

The same is true for names that end in "e" or "i", the sounds of which are usually dropped in English pronunciation. For example, Stallone is not sta-LOHN, or even sta-LOHN-ee, but actually stal-LOHN-eh. Marchese is not pronounced mar-KAYZ, nor mar-CHEEZ, nor mar-CHEEZ-ee, nor mar-KAY-zee, but actually mar-KEH-zeh.

Keep in mind that the Italian vowels are not necessarily pronounced like English ones. The "a" is pronounced AH, the "e" is pronounced EH (similar to AY, but short--without the ee sound at the end); "i" is pronounced EE, the "o" is pronounced OH (short sound, no "w" as in OHW), and the "u" is pronounced OO (short sound, no "w" as in OOW.)

Also, EVERY LETTER is pronounced in Italian; so "Rosetani" (the people of Roseto--males and females) is pronounced roh-set-AHN-ee, not roh-zet-AHN. "Rosetane" (the females of Roseto) is pronounced roh-set-AHN-eh.

Thanks for your question, which gave me the opportunity to share what little I have learned of Italian both in Italy and here in the U.S. There is so much more to this beautiful and melodic language, that those of you interested in learning it really should! Try the Berlitz tapes or CD Roms.

Ciao (pronounced CHOW)!!