Italian Food Vocabulary

The 75 beginner words (A1–A2) for food, with their English translations and part of speech, across 15 themed lists. These are the ones worth knowing first.

Food Basics

A1–A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
breakfastcolazionenounA1
coffeecaffènounA1
deliciousdeliziosoadjA1
restaurantristorantenounA1
waitercamerierenounA1
wateracquanounA1
billcontonounA2

Food Intermediate

A1–A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
breadpanenounA1
cheeseformaggionounA1
dinnercenanounA1
fruitfruttanounA1
lunchpranzonounA1
mealpastonounA1
vegetableverduranounA1
cookingcucinarenounA2
dessertdessertnounA2
mushroomfungonounA2
sweetdolceadjA2
winevinonounA2

Food Advanced

A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
dietdietanounA2

Ingredients

A1–A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
butterburronounA1
egguovonounA1
potatopatatanounA1
ricerisonounA1
sugarzuccheronounA1
tomatopomodoronounA1
flourfarinanounA2
garlicaglionounA2
oilolionounA2
onioncipollanounA2
pastapastanounA2
pepperpepenounA2
saltsalenounA2

Herbs & Spices

A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
chilipeperoncinonounA2

World Cuisines

A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
currycurrynounA2

Vegetables

A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
beansfagiolininounA2
carrotcarotanounA2
peaspisellinounA2

Fruits

A1–A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
applemelanounA1
bananabanananounA1
grapeuvanounA1
lemonlimonenounA2
limelimenounA2
melonmelonenounA2
pearperanounA2

Grains & Dairy

A1–A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
cornmaisnounA1
yogurtyogurtnounA1
creampannanounA2

Proteins & Meat

A1–A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
beefmanzonounA1
ground beefcarne di manzo macinatanounA2
hamprosciuttonounA2
meatballpolpettanounA2
sausagesalsiccianounA2
steakbisteccanounA2

Drinks

A1–A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
juicesucconounA1
milklattenounA1
teanounA1
champagnechampagnenounA2
lemonadelimonatanounA2
sodabibita gassatanounA2
sparkling wateracqua frizzantenounA2

Dairy & Eggs

A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
mayonnaisemaionesenounA2
sour creampanna acidanounA2
yolktuorlonounA2

Breads & Pastries

A1–A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
biscuitbiscottonounA1
bagelbagelnounA2
baguettebaguettenounA2
donutciambellanounA2
muffinmuffinnounA2
pastrypasticcerianounA2
wafflecialdanounA2

Condiments & Sauces

A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
hot saucesalsa piccantenounA2
olive oilolio d'olivanounA2
soy saucesalsa di soianounA2

Food Textures & Descriptions

A2
EnglishItalianTypeLevel
creamycremosoadjA2

The A1–A2 words are here. The rest are in the app

Watch Your LanguageVocabulary widgets for iPhone & Apple Watch

These lists stop at A1–A2, the words a beginner needs first. The food packs keep going through B1, B2 and C1 inside Watch Your Language, along with every other topic.

The app shows them to you a few at a time, in a widget on your iPhone Lock Screen and on your Apple Watch face, and brings back the ones you keep forgetting.

More Italian word lists