All the words you need to know to live in Italy: food and beverages

  • Cappuccino

    It consists of coffee and milk, served in a large cup and finished with milk foam.

  • Macchiato

    It is coffee with the addition of a small amount of milk, which can be cold or hot.

  • Ammazzacaffè

    While coffee typically it enjoyed at the end of every Italian meal, the “ammazzacaffè” is a shot of liqueur to enjoy after coffee.

  • Moka

    A traditional Italian machine for making coffee at home.

  • Contorno

    Side. it can be served with the second course or on its own after the first course.

  • Secondo piatto

    Second course. It follows the first course and consists of meat or fish.

  • Maccheroni

    Maccheroni are a type of short pasta that can be dressed with various sauces.

  • Primo piatto
    First course. The main course of Italian cuisine, normally a pasta dish.
  • Antipasto

    Appetizer. It precedes the first course and can be made up of a variety of bite size food samples for tasting. In restaurant menus, you can find “antipasti di mare” seafood-based or “antipasti di terra” meat-based appetizers.

  • Stuzzichini

    These are a variety of snacks served in small portions usually accompanied by alcoholic beverages.

  • Aperitivo

    Aperitif. It is an alcoholic beverage (spritz, prosecco, wine, or beer) enjoyed before meals to stimulate hunger and usually served with snacks. Aperitivo in Italy is a real social ritual.

  • Tiramisù

    It is perhaps the most famous of all Italian desserts, originating in the north-east and made with savoiardi cookies, coffee, mascarpone cream and cocoa powder.

  • Osteria

    A traditional tavern. It is the place where you can drink a glass of wine (bicchiere di vino) together with something to eat. Today's osteria can also be a restaurant in its own right.

  • Trattoria

    It is a word for a popular type of restaurant where you can eat simple, traditional dishes at a low price.

  • Pastasciutta

    It is a typical pasta dish, but it is also the way to refer to pasta without sauces (pasta - dry).