Italian · Food & Drink
"Garlic" in Italian: aglio
l'aglio
Garlic in Italian is l'aglio (LAHL-yoh), a masculine noun. One clove is uno spicchio d'aglio. It is central in Italian cooking, from sofritto to bruschetta.
Cooking pasta
Metti poco aglio nell'olio.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce aglio
Say it
LAHL-yoh
/ˈaʎ.ʎo/
Aglio is LAHL-yoh: the gl is like the lli in million. The article l' glues on: l'aglio.
"Garlic" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'aglio | garlic The ingredient in general. | The ingredient in general. |
| uno spicchio d'aglio | a clove of garlic Recipes and shopping. | Recipes and shopping. |
| aglio fresco | fresh garlic Market talk. | Market talk. |
| all'aglio | with garlic / garlic-style Spaghetti all'aglio e olio. | Spaghetti all'aglio e olio. |
How to use aglio in real life
- 1Cooking pasta
Metti poco aglio nell'olio.
Put a little garlic in the oil.
Aglio after dropping the article in recipes.
- 2At the market
Mi serve un po' di aglio fresco.
I need a bit of fresh garlic.
Di aglio after un po'.
- 3Ordering food
Questa salsa ha troppo aglio per me.
This sauce has too much garlic for me.
Troppo aglio as quantity.
Mistakes English speakers make with aglio
Incorrect: La aglio.
Correct: L'aglio.
Aglio is masculine and takes l' before the vowel.
Incorrect: Due agli (for two cloves).
Correct: Due spicchi d'aglio.
Count cloves with spicchio, not agli.
Good to know
Aglio is a quiet star of Italian home cooking. Many dishes start with garlic in oil, but cooks often remove whole cloves after frying so the flavor stays gentle rather than sharp.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Making a simple pasta sauce
ChatPal
Metto due spicchi d'aglio nella padella?
Shall I put two cloves of garlic in the pan?
You
Sì, ma togli l'aglio dopo un minuto.
Yes, but take the garlic out after a minute.
ChatPal
Ok. L'aglio non deve bruciare.
Ok. The garlic mustn't burn.
You
Esatto. Poi aggiungiamo il pomodoro.
Exactly. Then we add the tomato.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Garlic" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Garlic" in Italian
Is aglio masculine or feminine?
Masculine: l'aglio, un aglio (a whole bulb), dello aglio.
How do I say a clove?
Uno spicchio d'aglio.
What is all'aglio?
A label meaning prepared with garlic, as in spaghetti all'aglio e olio.
Does aglio smell strong?
Yes—Italians still use it daily, often fried gently so it sweetens.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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