Italian · Food & Drink
"Milk" in Italian: latte
il latte
Milk in Italian is il latte (LAHT-teh), a masculine noun. In a bar, caffè latte is espresso with milk. At the shop you choose latte intero, parzialmente scremato, or scremato.
Breakfast table
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How to pronounce latte
Say it
LAHT-teh
/ˈlat.te/
Latte stresses LAHT: LAHT-teh. Double t is sharp. Final e is light.
"Milk" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il latte | milk Default masculine noun. | Default masculine noun. |
| latte intero | whole milk Full-fat carton label. | Full-fat carton label. |
| latte scremato | skim milk Low-fat option. | Low-fat option. |
| caffè latte | coffee with milk Bar drink; not an American latte size by default. | Bar drink; not an American latte size by default. |
How to use latte in real life
- 1Breakfast table
Passami il latte, per favore.
Pass me the milk, please.
Il latte with the article.
- 2Supermarket shelf
Prendo il latte parzialmente scremato.
I'll take the semi-skimmed milk.
Common carton wording.
- 3Bar order
Un caffè latte senza schiuma.
A coffee with milk, no foam.
Latte names the milk component.
Mistakes English speakers make with latte
Incorrect: La latte è freddo.
Correct: Il latte è freddo.
Latte is masculine: il latte, freddo.
Incorrect: Vorrei un latte come a Starbucks.
Correct: Vorrei un caffè latte. / Vorrei un latte macchiato.
Bare un latte can confuse staff; name the drink clearly.
Good to know
Italians drink less plain milk as an adult beverage than some cultures do, but latte is everywhere in coffee, breakfast, and kids' snacks. In bars, naming caffè latte or latte macchiato avoids the American latte size assumption.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Making breakfast in a rented flat
ChatPal
C'è ancora latte nel frigo?
Is there still milk in the fridge?
You
Sì, il latte intero è aperto.
Yes, the whole milk is open.
ChatPal
Perfetto. Ne metto un po' nel caffè.
Perfect. I'll put a bit in the coffee.
You
Anch'io. Il latte freddo mi sveglia meglio.
Me too. Cold milk wakes me up better.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Milk" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Milk" in Italian
Is latte masculine?
Yes: il latte. Adjectives agree: latte fresco, latte scaduto.
What is latte intero?
Whole milk. Scremato is skim; parzialmente scremato is semi-skimmed.
Does latte alone mean a latte coffee?
Not reliably. Say caffè latte or latte macchiato for coffee drinks.
How do I pronounce latte?
LAHT-teh, with a sharp double t.
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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