Someone wolfed down their meal There are four palms (great appetite) and those who carefully nibbled on their plates like a bird (like a bird); there are those known a good fork (foodie) There are also some health-conscious people who choose to eat light and early meals, and strive to Live healthily and quickly (Live healthily and agilely).
In short, eating is a physiological necessity (and one of the joys of life, if I may add), but there are many different ways to do it, each with its own way of expressing it. So let’s explore some of the great ways to say “eat” in Italian that you may come across, from leisurely enjoyment to a quick energy boost.
1. to swallow
This verb summarizes the act of eating quickly, leaving no trace behind. This is for those times when the hunger pangs are so intense that you could eat an entire turkey in one sitting!
I'm so hungry I could eat the whole chicken!
I'm so hungry I could eat the whole chicken!
Figuratively speaking, devour Describes consuming something quickly, for example: I love his latest book, I can't wait to read it. (I love his latest book, I'm just devouring it.)
2. Trangugiare (swallow)
trangujare is another verb that describes fast eating, where you swallow the food so quickly that chewing is just a formality.
I swallowed a sandwich and continued my shift.
I devoured a sandwich before continuing my shift.
3. Sbocconcellare (gnawing)
This strange verb refers to the common act of eating small bites with your fingers, perhaps not because you're actually hungry, but just because. This word comes from cannibalizewhich is a decimal bitemeaning bite or a little.
While waiting, I took a bite of my sandwich.
While waiting, I took a bite of my sandwich.
4.Piluccare (gnawing)
as cannibalize, pick up You know, when you're not really hungry but you're eating anyway. it comes from the latin word Pillarmeaning is peel.
He didn't eat much and ate here and there.
She didn't eat much, just bits and pieces.
5. gnaw
This verb means to eat small amounts of food, perhaps without actually feeling hungry, or just as a snack between meals.
I didn't want to have dinner, so I ate some chips before going home.
I didn't want to have dinner, so I ate some chips before going home.
In expressions such as this, it is also used with the meaning of biting something biting nails (biting nails).
6. Spizzicare (gnawing/eating)
vomit It's when you enjoy small snacks between meals, sample small portions of food, or just sample here and there.
How about something to eat before going out?
How about a snack before we head out?
Please note: if someone asks you this question in southern Italy, be prepared for a feast!
7. Pappare (devour)
feeding is an interesting verb that encapsulates the pleasure of devouring food eagerly and heartily, just as one cannot resist a tempting dish. Use it only in informal communication.
He ate the whole cake.
He devoured the whole cake.
Its equivalent noun is dadboth referring to thick soup (such as the famous tomato soup in Tuscany) or more commonly used when talking to children about food (It's feeding time! – It's time to eat!)
8. Rifocillare (reenergizing)/Rifocillarsi (reenergizing)
This sweet-sounding verb comes from Latin refocusmeaning resurrection. Basically, it's like giving yourself or someone else a little energy through food or drink.
After a long stage, we had a bowl of hot soup to refresh ourselves.
After a long journey, we drank a bowl of hot soup to regain our strength.
9. Sfamare (eat)/Sfamarsi (eat oneself)
Whether raising a family or simply satisfying one's own hunger, this verb embodies the fundamental act of nourishment. In other words, it is about quenching hunger and providing food for yourself or others.
Luigi works a lot because he has five mouths to eat at home.
Luigi works very hard because he has five mouths to eat at home.
10. Fill your stomach
This argument eat The Italian word means when you really eat and drink. The strange thing is that it comes from interestingmeaning is toad In southern Italian dialect, it implies that you might be as bloated as a toad after a big meal.
We're going to eat a lot of sushi tonight.
We're having sushi tonight.
You may have also heard the term carnivallike After all the Christmas fun, I really need to go on a diet. (After all the Christmas fun, I really need to go on a diet.)
11. Strafogarsi (gobble)
Stratford Galcy like carnival – It means making yourself stupid. it comes from drown yourself (drown), expressing the idea: You eat too much and you might be overwhelmed with food!
During our vacation in Italy we were obsessed with pasta and pizza.
During our vacation in Italy we had pasta and pizza.
12. Have fun
wolf Also refers to eating so much that you can no longer eat. However, although carnival conveys the image of throwing yourself on food (think buffet craze), wolf and Stratford Galcy It’s more about filling your body with food.
I can’t wait to go to Sicily and indulge in cannoli!
I can’t wait to go to Sicily and indulge in cannoli!
13. Saziarsi (satisfying appetite)
Satisfy yourself It means eating enough to fill your stomach. it comes from latin satisfymeaning is enoughconveys exactly the idea of satisfying your hunger or craving just right.
With that plate of pasta, I was content all day long.
With that plate of pasta, I felt energized all day long.
You can also use it as a non-reflexive verb to talk about foods that are very nutritious and fill you up, e.g. Oats have a long shelf life (Oats can keep you full for longer).
14. Taste (taste)
taste Can have two meanings. This may mean eating just a small amount of food, e.g. He just tasted meat (He only tasted meat), or try a bite to see if it tastes good or is cooked correctly, e.g. Have you ever tried pasta? It should be cooked by now. (Have you tried spaghetti? It should be done now.)
I tried the cake and really liked it.
I tried the cake and I really liked it.
15. Chew
use chew explain eat The Italian word for “chewing something crunchy” perfectly expresses the idea of chewing something crunchy—not because you’re hungry, but because you enjoy it. In other words, it's like having a snack to munch on even though you're not really hungry.
I made some popcorn to munch on while watching the movie.
I'm making popcorn to eat while watching a movie.
16. Ruminare (chew slowly)
Luminare This is a perfect verb when someone is chewing their food very slowly, as if they are displaying the unhurried grace of a contented cow! This verb refers precisely to the unique way that ruminants like cows chew their food methodically to stimulate digestion.
You've been thinking about it for half an hour, don't you like it?
You've been chewing it for half an hour, don't you like it?
17. Cibarsi (feed yourself)
feeding It simply means Go and eat, has no special meaning. This isn't something you often see in everyday Italian, but it's good to know.
Bees feed on nectar and pollen.
Bees feed on nectar and pollen.
Sometimes you may hear feeding used figuratively, like a beautiful phrase feed on dreams (feed on dreams) Milanese poet aldamerini.
18. Alimentarsi (eating by yourself)
This is another general term for eating, referring to the act of consuming food. Again, not really used in everyday Italian, but always good to know.
Vegetarians eat foods of plant origin.
Vegetarians eat plant-based foods.
You'll hear it used more often in a metaphorical sense, as in something developing through something else. For example: Misinformation fuels fear (Misinformation fuels fear).
19. Nutrirsi (Nourish yourself)
eat It goes beyond the physiological need to eat; it's about paying attention to what you eat and making sure your body is getting what it needs.
Eating healthy foods is essential for physical and mental health.
Nourishing yourself with healthy foods is key to physical and mental happiness.
Metaphorically speaking, it's like something thriving due to certain conditions, e.g. Some websites feed on gossip and fake news (Certain websites thrive on gossip and fake news).
Heather Broster is a graduate with honors in linguistics from the University of Western Ontario. She is an aspiring polyglot, fluent in English and Italian, as well as varying degrees of fluency in Japanese, Welsh and French. Originally from Toronto, Heather has lived in several countries, notably Italy for six years. Her main research areas are language acquisition, education and bilingual teaching.
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