Italian · Food & Drink
"Ham" in Italian: prosciutto
il prosciutto
Note: cooked ham: il prosciutto cotto
Ham in Italian is il prosciutto (eel pro-SHOOT-toh), masculine. Prosciutto crudo is cured; the note cooked ham is il prosciutto cotto—still built on prosciutto.
Delicatessen counter
Vorrei cento grammi di prosciutto crudo.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce prosciutto
Say it
eel pro-SHOOT-toh
/il proˈʃut.to/
Prosciutto: pro-SHOOT-toh. Soft sci like shoot. Double t held. Stress SHOOT.
"Ham" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il prosciutto | ham / prosciutto Core noun. | Core noun. |
| prosciutto crudo | cured ham Dry-cured classic. | Dry-cured classic. |
| prosciutto cotto | cooked ham Note sense for sandwich ham. | Note sense for sandwich ham. |
| un panino col prosciutto | a ham sandwich Bar order. | Bar order. |
How to use prosciutto in real life
- 1Delicatessen counter
Vorrei cento grammi di prosciutto crudo.
I'd like a hundred grams of cured ham.
Prosciutto + crudo.
- 2Breakfast buffet
C'è ancora prosciutto cotto?
Is there any cooked ham left?
Prosciutto cotto.
- 3Pizza topping
Sulla pizza metti poco prosciutto, grazie.
Put little ham on the pizza, please.
Bare prosciutto.
Mistakes English speakers make with prosciutto
Incorrect: Vorrei del ham.
Correct: Vorrei del prosciutto.
Use prosciutto.
Incorrect: La prosciutto è salata.
Correct: Il prosciutto è salato.
Prosciutto is masculine.
Good to know
Ordering, specify crudo or cotto—prosciutto alone often means crudo in tourist spots. Parma and San Daniele are pride labels. Thin slices matter; thick cuts surprise locals.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering at a salumeria
ChatPal
Prendiamo del prosciutto per l'aperitivo?
Shall we get some ham for aperitivo?
You
Sì—prosciutto crudo, magari due etti.
Yes—cured ham, maybe two etti.
ChatPal
E un po' di prosciutto cotto per i bambini.
And a bit of cooked ham for the kids.
You
Perfetto, chiedo anche il pane.
Perfect, I'll ask for bread too.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Ham" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Ham" in Italian
How do you say ham?
Il prosciutto.
Cooked sandwich ham?
Prosciutto cotto.
Cured ham?
Prosciutto crudo.
Gender?
Masculine: il prosciutto.
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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