Italian · Food & Drink
"Fish" in Italian: pesce
il pesce
Fish in Italian is il pesce (eel PEH-sheh), masculine. Un pesce is one fish; i pesci are fish (animals). On menus, pesce often means fish dishes in general.
Market stall
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How to pronounce pesce
Say it
eel PEH-sheh
/il ˈpeʃ.ʃe/
Pesce is PEH-sheh: soft sheh, not keh. Plural pesci is PEH-shee.
"Fish" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il pesce | the fish Animal or food. | Animal or food. |
| i pesci | the fish (plural) Living fish / kinds. | Living fish / kinds. |
| pesce fresco | fresh fish Market talk. | Market talk. |
| secondo di pesce | fish main course Restaurant. | Restaurant. |
How to use pesce in real life
- 1Market stall
Quanto costa questo pesce?
How much is this fish?
Questo pesce.
- 2Friday dinner
Stasera mangiamo pesce al forno.
Tonight we're eating baked fish.
Pesce as food.
- 3Aquarium
I pesci nuotano vicino al vetro.
The fish swim near the glass.
I pesci living.
Mistakes English speakers make with pesce
Incorrect: La pesce è buona.
Correct: Il pesce è buono.
Pesce is masculine.
Incorrect: Ho comprato due pesce.
Correct: Ho comprato due pesci.
Plural pesci.
Good to know
Coastal Italy treats pesce fresco as a point of pride—ask when it arrived. Menus may list pesce del giorno. Inland, frozen pesce is common and nobody pretends otherwise.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing dinner near the harbor
ChatPal
Prendiamo pesce o pizza?
Shall we have fish or pizza?
You
Pesce: qui è più fresco.
Fish: it's fresher here.
ChatPal
Va bene. Un antipasto di pesce per due?
Okay. A fish starter for two?
You
Sì, e poi un secondo di pesce alla griglia.
Yes, and then a grilled fish main.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Fish" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Fish" in Italian
Pesce or pesci?
Pesce singular; pesci plural for animals/kinds. Food often stays pesce.
Seafood?
Frutti di mare; pesce is fish specifically.
Fishmonger?
Il pescivendolo / la pescheria.
Is pesce feminine?
No: il pesce.
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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