Italian · Food & Drink
"Food" in Italian: cibo
il cibo
Food in Italian is il cibo (CHEE-boh), a masculine noun. When you talk about a meal in general, il cibo is the broad word. On menus you will also see piatti for dishes.
Talking about Italian cuisine
Il cibo italiano è semplice e buono.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cibo
Say it
CHEE-boh
/ˈtʃi.bo/
Cibo stresses the first syllable: CHEE-boh. The c before i is a soft ch. Keep both vowels clear and short.
"Food" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il cibo | food General word for food of any kind. | General word for food of any kind. |
| il piatto | dish, plate A specific dish on a menu or the plate itself. | A specific dish on a menu or the plate itself. |
| il pasto | meal Breakfast, lunch, or dinner as a meal event. | Breakfast, lunch, or dinner as a meal event. |
| da mangiare | something to eat Casual: cerchiamo da mangiare (let's find something to eat). | Casual: cerchiamo da mangiare (let's find something to eat). |
How to use cibo in real life
- 1Talking about Italian cuisine
Il cibo italiano è semplice e buono.
Italian food is simple and good.
Il cibo keeps the article in general statements.
- 2After a long walk
Ho fame, cerchiamo un po' di cibo!
I'm hungry, let's find some food!
Un po' di cibo means a bit of food.
- 3At a hostel kitchen
C'è cibo nel frigo per stasera?
Is there food in the fridge for tonight?
Cibo works for leftovers and groceries alike.
Mistakes English speakers make with cibo
Incorrect: La cibo è buona.
Correct: Il cibo è buono.
Cibo is masculine: il cibo, and adjectives agree: buono.
Incorrect: Voglio un cibo.
Correct: Voglio del cibo. / Voglio qualcosa da mangiare.
Cibo is usually uncountable. Use del cibo or qualcosa da mangiare.
Good to know
Italians often talk about food by naming the dish or the meal (pranzo, cena) rather than repeating il cibo. Still, il cibo is the clear beginner word when you mean food in general, including in travel chats about local food.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing where to eat in Naples
ChatPal
Hai fame? Il cibo di questa zona è fantastico.
Hungry? The food in this area is fantastic.
You
Sì! Vuoi cibo di strada o un ristorante?
Yes! Do you want street food or a restaurant?
ChatPal
Partiamo dal cibo di strada, poi decidiamo.
Let's start with street food, then we'll decide.
You
Ottimo. Io adoro il cibo speziato!
Great. I love spicy food!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Food" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Food" in Italian
Is cibo masculine or feminine?
Masculine: il cibo. Say del cibo for some food and il cibo italiano for Italian food.
What is the difference between cibo and pasto?
Cibo is food itself. Pasto is a meal as an occasion, like il pasto di mezzogiorno (the midday meal).
How do I say street food?
Say cibo di strada. You will also see the English loanword street food on some signs in big cities.
Can I say cibi in the plural?
Yes, i cibi appears when you compare kinds of foods, but beginners usually stay with singular il cibo.
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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