Italian · Food & Drink
"Dinner" in Italian: cena
la cena
Dinner in Italian is la cena (lah CHEH-nah). Fare cena means to have dinner. Italians often eat cena later than in the US or UK—commonly around 8 p.m. or later.
Inviting neighbors
Venite a cena da noi venerdì?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cena
Say it
lah CHEH-nah
/la ˈtʃe.na/
Cena stresses CHEH: CHEH-nah. Soft c before e, like ch in cherry.
"Dinner" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la cena | dinner Evening meal. | Evening meal. |
| fare cena | to have dinner Usual verb phrase. | Usual verb phrase. |
| a cena | at dinner / for dinner Invitations and timing. | Invitations and timing. |
| cena fuori | dinner out Eating at a restaurant. | Eating at a restaurant. |
How to use cena in real life
- 1Inviting neighbors
Venite a cena da noi venerdì?
Will you come to dinner at our place on Friday?
A cena da + person/place.
- 2Hotel restaurant
La cena è servita dalle diciannove e trenta.
Dinner is served from 7:30 p.m.
La cena for the meal service.
- 3Weeknight routine
Facciamo cena verso le otto.
We have dinner around eight.
Fare cena → facciamo cena.
Mistakes English speakers make with cena
Incorrect: Il cena è pronto.
Correct: La cena è pronta.
Cena is feminine: la cena.
Incorrect: Mangiamo dinner alle nove.
Correct: Facciamo cena alle nove.
Use fare cena, not English dinner.
Good to know
Cena is social: long tables, late starts, and leftover talk until late. Tourist restaurants open earlier, but locals may still consider 7 p.m. early. A cena fuori celebrates a night without cooking.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing an evening plan in Rome
ChatPal
A che ora facciamo cena?
What time shall we have dinner?
You
Una cena verso le otto e mezza va bene.
A dinner around eight thirty works.
ChatPal
Perfetto: a cena provo i tonnarelli.
Perfect: at dinner I'll try the tonnarelli.
You
Io alla cena prendo qualcosa di leggero.
At dinner I'll have something light.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Dinner" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Dinner" in Italian
How do I say have dinner?
Fare cena.
What time is dinner in Italy?
Often 20:00 or later at home; restaurants vary.
Cena or pranzo?
Pranzo is lunch; cena is dinner.
How do I invite someone to dinner?
Vuoi venire a cena? or Venite a cena da noi?
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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