bar
/ˈbar/masculine
The English word 'bar' can be translated into Italian as bar, referring to a business licensed to sell intoxicating beverages. Wiktionary also lists birreria.
Meaning: business licensed to sell intoxicating beverages (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bar | /ˈbar/ | masculine |
| birreria | feminine |
In Italy, a bar is the standard place to go for a quick espresso or cappuccino in the morning, not just a place for alcohol. It functions as a cafe or coffee bar. The phrase Mangiare al bancone means eating at the bar counter. You may also encounter a caffè corretto, which is an espresso with a splash of alcohol such as grappa or sambuca.
Which one should you use?
While bar is a general term for a place serving coffee and drinks, birreria specifically refers to a place specializing in beer.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The names Antivari and Antibari are related to the town (name).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word bar is a masculine noun, so it uses the masculine article il.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbar/
Did you know?
- In Italy, if you drink your coffee standing at the bar counter, it is often cheaper than if you sit at a table, where a service charge is typically added.
- In many traditional Italian bar settings, it is customary to pay first at the cash register cassa and then take the receipt to the counter to order.
- The Italian word bar is actually a direct borrowing from English, despite being used to describe a service that is culturally quite different.
Examples in context
- Tom è al bar.Tom is at the bar.This sentence is useful for showing someone is at the bar.Tatoeba #2018462 by Guybrush88, translation #1868225 by CK
- Il bar è chiuso.The bar is closed.This sentence is useful for stating the status of the bar.Tatoeba #7247827 by Guybrush88, translation #3393301 by CK
- Vanno in un bar.They go to a bar.This sentence is useful for describing the action of going to a bar.Tatoeba #7247934 by Guybrush88, translation #6672374 by moskytoo
- Andiamo al bar per prendere un caffè?Shall we go to the bar to have a coffee?
- Di solito vado al mio bar preferito per bere un aperitivo.I usually go to my favorite bar to have an aperitivo.
- 130 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are walking in the city center.
- FrancescoCerchiamo un bar per bere qualcosa.Let's look for a bar to drink something.
- GiuliaC'è un bar molto carino qui vicino.There is a very nice bar nearby.
- FrancescoOttimo, andiamo in quel bar.Great, let's go into that bar.
- GiuliaVa bene, entriamo subito.Okay, let's go inside right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bar” translations and entries bar, birreria, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bar, birreria, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
