Italian · Food & Drink
"Breakfast" in Italian: colazione
la colazione
Breakfast in Italian is la colazione (lah koh-lah-TSYOH-neh). Italians say fare colazione for to have breakfast. A typical bar breakfast is cappuccino and a cornetto.
Hotel lobby morning
A che ora è la colazione?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce colazione
Say it
lah koh-lah-TSYOH-neh
/la ko.laˈtso.ne/
Colazione stresses TSYOH: koh-lah-TSYOH-neh. The z sounds like ts.
"Breakfast" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la colazione | breakfast The meal. | The meal. |
| fare colazione | to have breakfast The usual verb phrase. | The usual verb phrase. |
| colazione al bar | breakfast at the café Standing at the counter. | Standing at the counter. |
| prima colazione | breakfast (hotel wording) On hotel boards and menus. | On hotel boards and menus. |
How to use colazione in real life
- 1Hotel lobby morning
A che ora è la colazione?
What time is breakfast?
Hotels often say prima colazione on signs.
- 2Making plans with a friend
Facciamo colazione insieme domani?
Shall we have breakfast together tomorrow?
Fare colazione → facciamo colazione.
- 3Ordering at the bar
Per la colazione prendo un cappuccino e un cornetto.
For breakfast I'll have a cappuccino and a croissant.
Classic Italian bar breakfast.
Mistakes English speakers make with colazione
Incorrect: Mangio il breakfast alle otto.
Correct: Faccio colazione alle otto.
Use fare colazione, not the English word breakfast.
Incorrect: Il colazione è pronto.
Correct: La colazione è pronta.
Colazione is feminine: la colazione.
Good to know
Italian colazione is often light and sweet at a bar: coffee plus pastry, paid at the cassa then consumed standing. Savory eggs-and-bacon breakfasts exist in tourist hotels, but locals still treat the quick bar stop as the real morning ritual.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting before a museum day
ChatPal
Vuoi fare colazione al bar sotto casa?
Want to have breakfast at the bar downstairs?
You
Sì, una colazione veloce mi basta.
Yes, a quick breakfast is enough for me.
ChatPal
Io alla colazione prendo solo un espresso.
At breakfast I only have an espresso.
You
Io alla colazione voglio anche un cornetto.
At breakfast I also want a croissant.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Breakfast" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Breakfast" in Italian
How do I say have breakfast?
Fare colazione. Present: faccio colazione, fai colazione.
Is colazione only sweet?
Often yes in bars, but hotels may offer savory options too.
What is prima colazione?
Hotel and menu wording for breakfast—same meal as colazione.
Do Italians drink cappuccino after noon?
Many prefer not to; for breakfast it is classic.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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