Last updated on October 18th, 2024
If you’re planning on visiting Italy, you’ll definitely be exploring the country’s trattorie, ristoranti, osterie, bars, and cafés!
So, why not familiarize yourself with some of the hardest and most commonly mispronounced Italian foods that you’ll likely find on Italian menus.
Wouldn’t you prefer not to get a funny look from your waiter?
I hear you. I did it for far too long when I came to Italy for 2 months at 18 years old to work on farms. Like most people, food was top of my list but I had trouble pronouncing some Italian foods.
Well, I overcame it and so will you. Below, I’ve given you the best and easiest phonetic pronunciations with clear examples of how you might use or hear each word being used.
Pronunciation Tip: The most common mistake I have found that many visitors make is with the ‘c.’ The Italian ‘c’ is pronounced ‘k’ when followed by a, o, u, or h. But, when the ‘c’ is followed by an e or i, it’s pronounced ‘ch.’
cotto → koht-toh (cooked)
cibo → chee-boh (food)
bruschetta → broo-skeht-tah
pistacchio → pee-stahk-keeoh (pistachio)
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Espresso
You may be used to ordering an ex-PRESS-oh at Starbucks, but you’ll want to pronounce your drink differently when you arrive in Italy.
Espresso is pronounced eh-SPREHS-soh.
Listen to it here:
Buongiorno, vorrei un espresso, per favore.
Good morning, I’d like an espresso, please.
Gnocchi
Honestly, I have never heard someone say they would like guh-nok-kee but I am sure it has happened. Most people say noh-KEE which is pretty close but still, not quite there.
Gnocchi is pronounced nyowk-kee.
Listen to it here:
Questi gnocchi sono fatti in casa?
Are the gnocchi homemade?
Learn More: Gnocchi vs Pasta – What’s the Difference?
Lasagne
The reason lah-san-yah gets mispronounced is because in English it’s spelled ‘lasagna’ which, however, in Italian, means one sheet of pasta. When you make a whole teglia, or tray of lasagna, it’s going to be the plural form, lasagne.
Lasagne is pronounced lah-SAHN-yeh.
Listen to it here:
Chiedo gentilmente per una vaschetta da due porzioni da portare via.
May I kindly ask for a two portion container of lasagna to go?
Learn More: Read about the Different Types of Lasagne in Italy.
Focaccia
Don’t be caught dead saying fuh-kach-ee-uh in Italy, especially in a place like Genova from where it originates.
Focaccia is pronounced foh-cahch-chah
Listen to it here:
Posso avere un pezzo di focaccia con le olive da mangiare subito e anche un pezzo più grande con i pomodorini da portare via per favore?
May I please have a piece of olive focaccia to eat right now and also a larger piece with cherry tomatoes to take home?
Try It: Now that you can pronounce it, learn how to make it – check out my recipe for Authentic Ligurian Focaccia.
Minestrone
This is classically mispronounced as min-eh-stohn or min-eh-strohn-EE, even by Italo-American families!
Minestrone is pronounced mee-neh-STROH-neh.
Listen to it here:
Sono vegetariana. La minestrone è senza carne, vero?
I am a vegetarian. The minestrone is made without meat, correct?
Mozzarella
You will want to get a handle on this one if you are even thinking about heading to southern Italy where mozzarella is religion. Try to avoid a typical foreign pronunciation of maat-suh-REH-luh.
Mozzarella is pronounced mohtz-zah-rehl-lah.
Listen to it here:
Mi scusi, dove posso trovare la mozzarella più buona a Napoli?
Excuse me, where can I find the best mozzarella in Naples?
Read about the Types and Shapes of Mozzarella.
Caprese
A caprese salad is a light and easy lunch but typically mispronounced as ca-prehz or ca-prehz-EE salad.
Caprese is pronounced cah-PREH-zeh.
Listen to it here:
La caprese basta per un pranzo leggero o non è abbastanza?
Will the caprese be enough for a light lunch or is it not enough?
Bruschetta
Not only do foreigners say broo-sheh-tuh but they also mix up what it actually is. The classic Italian bruschetta is a grilled slice of bread with olive oil, garlic, chopped fresh tomatoes and basil.
Bruschetta is pronounced broo-skeht-tah.
Listen to it here:
Salve, io vorrei la bruschetta per cominciare e poi l’insalata di pollo, per piacere.
Hello, I would like the bruschetta to start and then I will have the chicken salad please.
Good To Know: Bruschetta is not garlic bread. Learn how to make Authentic Italian Bruschetta.
Panino
Perhaps my personal favorite mispronounced Italian food word – I hear it everywhere! Panino is usually said and written as panini (pronounced pah-nee-nee) in English, referring to a grilled sandwich. Panini in Italian means sandwiches while panino means just one sandwich (not grilled).
Panino is pronounced pah-NEE-noh.
Listen to it here:
Buongiorno, preferirei un panino senza salsa ma vedo sul menù tutti i vostri panini hanno delle salse. Posso ordinarne uno senza?
Hello, I would prefer a sandwich without any sauce but I see all your sandwiches on the menu have sauces on them. May I order one without?
Tagliatelle
Whether you are headed to Italy or not, you should pronounce this correctly, not tag-lee-ah-tell-EE . Trust me, you will look like you know what you are talking about if you get this one right.
Tagliatelle is pronounced tal-YUH-tel-leh.
Listen to it here:
Buongiorno, per quanto tempo posso tenere le tagliatelle fresche in frigo?
Good day, for how long will the fresh tagliatelle keep in the refrigerator?
Make It: Try making fresh pasta with my recipe for homemade tagliatelle.
Formaggio
In most Italian regions, cheese is a large part of the diet so before you walk into a deli to get some local cheese, please don’t say it like you might at home: for-mah-jee-oh
Formaggio is pronounced fohr-MAHJ-joh.
Listen to it here:
Mi potrebbe mettere il formaggio sotto vuoto per favore così lo porto in aereo a casa?
Could you please vacuum pack the cheese so I can bring it back with me on the airplane?
Learn More: Study up on formaggio with our Complete Guide to Italian Cheese!
Limoncello
The homemade Italian version is nothing like the thick, neon yellow lee-mon-kello you typically find abroad. If you get the chance, do try the real stuff in a restaurant. It’s a whole different thing! I typically hate limoncello but when it’s homemade by the owners, it’s really good stuff.
Caprese is pronounced lee-MOHN-chehl-loh.
Listen to it here:
Il limoncello è fatto in casa da voi?
Is the limoncello made in house?
Guanciale
A very important ingredient in Roman cooking so don’t get caught saying gwan-cee-AH-lee as many of us are used to.
Guanciale is pronounced gwan-CHAW-ley.
Listen to it here:
L’amatriciana è la pasta fatta con guanciale e pomodoro, vero?
The amatriciana is made with guanciale and tomatoes, right?
Pappardelle
This is another pasta you should certainly get a handle on in general as it is very trendy in American-Italian restaurants but also, if you are visiting Tuscany. Pah-pahr-dehl isn’t going to cut it when you go to Florence and want to fit in!
Pappardelle is pronounced pawp-par-DEHL-leh.
Listen to it here:
Vorrei le pappardelle con cinghiale per favore?
I would like the pappardelle with wild boar sauce please?
Parmigiano
I definitely pronounced this par-mee-ZAN-oh before moving to Italy (perhaps because the American way of saying it is spelled parmesan). Wrong, wrong, and wrong again!
Parmigiano is pronounced pahr-mee-JAH-noh.
Listen to it here:
Dov’è il museo di parmigiano? Sono persa!
Where is the parmigiano museum? I am lost!
Dive Deeper: Learn more about How to Pronounce Parmigiano.
Mascarpone
While mar-scar-PON-ee or mar-scar-PON (as foreigners say it) is a useful ingredient in making desserts in Italy, you probably won’t need to use this while traveling. It’s anyhow nice to nail it down! For some reason it took me forever to get this one right and sometimes I still slip into old habits.
Mascarpone is pronounced mas-kahr-POH-ney.
Listen to it here:
Ho un’intolleranza al lattosio. C’è mascarpone in questo dolce?
I am lactose-intolerant. Is this dessert made with mascarpone?
Bolognese
You are probably pretty used to saying boh-leg-nay-see or boh-lohn-ehz but in Italian, the pronunciation is much different!
Bolognese is pronounced boh-loh-NYEH-zeh.
Listen to it here:
Vorrei imparare a fare una bolognese. Dove potrei fare una lezione di cucina?
I would like to learn how to make bolognese. Where could I take a cooking lesson?
Tiramisù
Although tiramisù, commonly pronounced as tee-ruh-MEE-soo in English, originated in northern Italy, it’s so good that it has been adopted by all regions so you will absolutely come across it on a menu no matter where your travels bring you.
Tiramisù is pronounced teer-ah-mee-SOO.
Listen to it here:
Vorremmo ordinare un tiramisù da condividere, grazie.
We would like to order one tiramisù to share, thank you.
Biscotti
Us Americans are used to saying bis-cot-tee and think of them as a certain type of cookie but in Italy, it’s the general word for cookie.
Biscotti is pronounced bee-SKOHT-tee.
Listen to it here:
In che pasticceria trovo i migliori biscotti della città?
In which bakery can I find the city’s best cookies?
Carpaccio
Although cahr-pah-kee-oh, as it’s often pronounced incorrectly by foreigners, has become internationally enjoyed, the correct pronunciation just never took hold. This popular first course is a must try in several Italian regions, especially Veneto.
Carpaccio is pronounced cahr-PAHCH-choh.
Listen to it here:
Mi consiglierebbe il carpaccio o l’insalata di polpo?
Would you recommend the carpaccio or the octopus salad?
Calzone
Cal-zohn or Cal-zohn-ee, as you most likely know it as, has become even more popular abroad than in Italy. Although most pizzerias in Italy do make them, they are much less widespread and made by basically folding the pizza in half, instead of stuffing it full with a special ricotta-based filling.
Calzone is pronounced cahl-ZOH-ney.
Listen to it here:
Vorrei un calzone mentre mia bambina vorrebbe la pizza con prosciutto crudo, per favore.
I would please like a calzone while my daughter would like a pizza with prosciutto.
Try It: If you like calzoni, you should try panzerotti!
Provolone
Another classic mispronunciation, proh-vah-lohn or proh-vah-lohn-ee, and not too important to master IMHO as this isn’t a cheese that is widespread in Italy (mostly eaten in Campania).
Provolone is pronounced proh-voh-LOH-neh.
Listen to it here:
C’è un’azienda che produce provolone nella vicinanza?
Do you know of a place that produces provolone nearby?
Cioppino
I loved this dish growing up as my family made it often. After learning more about Italian cooking in high school, I realized that my family recipe was pretty authentic but what I never learned until I moved to Italy was how poorly we were all pronouncing it: cee-OH-pee-noh
Cioppino is pronounced chohp-PEE-noh.
Listen to it here:
Dove posso trovare un pescevendolo molto buono perché vorrei fare un cioppino per domani sera.
Where can I find a very good fishmonger because I would like to make a cioppino for tomorrow evening.
Porchetta
Ever gaining attraction, this Italian street-food is a classic in many regions and a must try, especially in a sandwich (which is primarily how it’s sold from street vendors). It can be tempting to pronounce it por-CHET-uh but that is incorrect!
Caprese is pronounced poor-KEHT-tah.
Listen to it here:
Mi scusi, c’è qualcuno che vende la porchetta a questo mercato?
Excuse me, is there someone who sells porchetta at this market?
Prosciutto
Take advantage of the abundance of prosciutto, mispronounced pro-SKI-oot-oh, when you come to Italy. The options are limited abroad and it carries a hefty sticker price!
Prosciutto is pronounced proh-SHOOT-toh.
Listen to it here:
Per cominciare io prendo il prosciutto con il melone, per piacere.
To start off I will have the prosciutto and melon, please.
Learn More: You may want to read Is Prosciutto Raw? and Prosciutto Crudo vs Cotto.
Arancini
Sicilian street food at its very best. If you don’t pronounce this one perfectly like saying ah-ran-SEE-nee, the Sicilians won’t hold it against you (they are too nice), but they will greatly appreciate your efforts if you at least get it close! I am speaking from several experiences here, some as a newbie Italian speaker and now as a fluent resident.
Arancini is pronounced ahr-ahn-CHEE-nee.
Listen to it here:
Vorremmo assaggiare tutti gli arancini che avete. Possiamo avere uno per tipo, per favore?
We would like to try all of your arancini. Can we please have one of each kind?
Ciabatta
Literally meaning “slipper” referring to its resemblance, this white bread is full of air pockets with a hard, crispy crust, most commonly found in Veneto. I personally think this is one of Italy’s finer breads as it really embodies the best of a pillowy center and a crispy crust. In America, I grew up saying chee-uh-bah-tah.
Ciabatta is pronounced chah-BAHT-tah.
Listen to it here:
Vorrei il vostro panino vegetariano ma posso sostituire la focaccia con la ciabatta, per favore?
I would like your vegetarian sandwich but may I please substitute the focaccia for the ciabatta bread?
Pizzaiolo
If your goal is to be a pizza maker then get this one down first. The role of a pizza maker is very important as Italians eat pizza literally every week – no joke, even several times! Usually I hear tourists saying pee-ZAH-ee-oh-loh which is a common mistake to make because this word is a bit tricky!
Pizzaiolo is pronounced peetz-zeye-OH-loh.
Listen to it here:
Questa è la pizza più buona che io abbia mai mangiato in vita mia. Posso conoscere il pizzaiolo?
This is the absolute best pizza I have ever eaten in my life. May I meet the pizza maker?
Cappuccino
This is top of the list for important pronunciations when visiting Italy as you will most likely be drinking a lot of these – or I hope you are because you will never get them as good anywhere else in the world. While you may be used to saying caa-poo-kee-noh, start practicing so the moment you land you can grab one at the first bar you see to wake yourself up!
Cappuccino is pronounced kahp-poo-CHEE-noh.
Listen to it here:
Vorrei un cappuccino, un cornetto vuoto e una spremuta, per piacere.
I would like a cappuccino, a plain pastry and a freshly squeezed orange juice, please.
Read more about the Cappuccino in Italy – Can You Drink One After Breakfast?
Bresaola
I honestly never tried this until I started spending serious time here and it took me forever to get the pronunciation right. I couldn’t stop saying bray-SAY-oh-la! After many mistakes, however, I got it!
Bresaola is pronounced bree-zahoh-lah.
Listen to it here:
L’antipasto di bresaola è abbastanza per condividere a metà se poi prendiamo ciascuno un primo dopo, secondo Lei?
Do you think the bresaola appetizer is big enough to split between us if we both get a first course dish to follow?
Pistacchio
If you are coming to Italy to eat gelato, then get some of these nuts down. Many gelaterias are used to hearing pee-stah-choh from foreign passerbys but with just a small correction you will surely surprise them!
Pistacchio is pronounced pee-stahk-keoh.
Listen to it here:
Vorrei un gelato medio in un coppetta con pistacchio e cioccolato, per favore.
I would like a medium gelato in a cup with pistachio and chocolate ice cream, please.
Nocciola
Another very popular gelato flavor commonly mispronounced as noh-kee-oh-laa. If you haven’t gotten it already, the Italian “c” is not easy to nail down if you aren’t used to it and know the rules.
Nocciola is pronounced nohch-CHOH-lah.
Listen to it here:
Vorrei un gelato piccolo in un cono con nocciola e stracciatella, per favore.
I would please like a small gelato in a cone with hazelnut and chocolate chip ice cream.
Ricotta
If you are in Tuscany you will definitely come across some of the finest ricotta around. I never really liked it until I had the true stuff made in the surrounding hills from us here in southern Tuscany. Known to most as ree-cott-ah, the real pronunciation is just slightly different. It’s all about stressing the right syllables.
Ricotta is pronounced ree-KOHT-tah.
Listen to it here:
Questa ricotta è di mucca o di pecora?
Is this sheep’s or cow’s milk ricotta?
Amatriciana
One of Italy’s most beloved pastas both locally and abroad is also one of the most commonly mispronounced pasta dishes: am-at-ree-cee-AH-na.
Amatriciana is pronounced ah-mah-tree-CHAWNAH.
Listen to it here:
C’è un ristorante qui che è conosciuto per la sua amatriciana?
Is there a restaurant that is known for its amatriciana?
Panettone
My mom loves pah-nah-tohn or pah-nah-tohn-ee, as she taught me to say it (both incorrect) and so I too adore it. And now that I live in Italy, I have to admit it’s one of the better things about spending the holiday season far from my family. The panettone makes it all better!
Panettone is pronounced pahn-eht-toh-ney.
Listen to it here:
Vorrei comprare un panettone artigianale. Lo devo ordinare in anticipo?
I would like to buy a homemade panettone. Do I need to pre-order?
Learn More: Read 85+ Facts About Italian Food Culture!
