Italian · Food & Drink
"Ice cream" in Italian: gelato
il gelato
Ice cream in Italian is il gelato (eel jeh-LAH-toh), masculine: un gelato, due gelati. Order by saying un cono or una coppetta plus flavors.
Gelateria counter
Prendo un gelato al pistacchio, grazie.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce gelato
Say it
eel jeh-LAH-toh
/dʒeˈla.to/
Gelato stresses LAH: jeh-LAH-toh. Soft g like genre.
"Ice cream" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il gelato | the ice cream Default noun. | Default noun. |
| un gelato | an ice cream Ordering one. | Ordering one. |
| cono di gelato | ice-cream cone Cone vs cup. | Cone vs cup. |
| gusti di gelato | ice-cream flavors Choosing flavors. | Choosing flavors. |
How to use gelato in real life
- 1Gelateria counter
Prendo un gelato al pistacchio, grazie.
I'll take a pistachio ice cream, thanks.
Un gelato + flavor.
- 2Evening stroll
Andiamo a prenderci un gelato dopo cena?
Shall we get an ice cream after dinner?
Classic social plan.
- 3Sharing
Il gelato si sta sciogliendo: sbrigati.
The ice cream is melting: hurry up.
Il gelato when you both see it.
Mistakes English speakers make with gelato
Incorrect: La gelato è buona.
Correct: Il gelato è buono.
Gelato is masculine: il gelato.
Incorrect: Vorrei un ice cream alla fragola.
Correct: Vorrei un gelato alla fragola.
Use gelato.
Good to know
Gelato is denser and less fatty than many American ice creams. Evening passeggiata plus gelato is a summer ritual in almost every town.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering at a crowded gelateria
ChatPal
Cono o coppetta per il gelato?
Cone or cup for the ice cream?
You
Cono. Il gelato alla nocciola è buono qui?
Cone. Is the hazelnut ice cream good here?
ChatPal
Sì. Io prendo un gelato al limone.
Yes. I'll take a lemon ice cream.
You
Perfetto — pago io entrambi.
Perfect — I'll pay for both.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Ice cream" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Ice cream" in Italian
Is gelato masculine?
Yes: il gelato, un gelato.
How do I order two flavors?
Un gelato con due gusti: … e …
Cone or cup?
Cono or coppetta.
Plural of gelato?
I gelati.
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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