cibo squisito
/ˈt͡ʃi.bo skwiˈzi.to/word by word
The English phrase "beautiful food" is translated into Italian as cibo squisito.
This phrase is used to describe food that tastes delicious or exquisite. In casual settings, you can express your delight in a meal by saying Mamma mia, che buono!, which translates to "My goodness, how delicious!"
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of cibo squisito is /ˈtʃi.bo skwiˈzi.to/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
When do people say it?
When eating something particularly tasty, it is common to use the playful exclamation Mamma mia, che buono! to express your delight.
Did you know?
- While cibo means 'food' in Italian, its cousins in Spanish and Portuguese, cebo and cevo, evolved to mean 'bait'.
- Italians often use the gesture of fingertips gathered and shaking slightly while saying che buono! to emphasize the quality of the meal.
- The term squisito can also be used to describe a person's manners or a refined gesture, not just a meal.
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are eating dinner at a friend's house.
- FrancescoMartina, prova questo risotto.Martina, try this risotto.
- MartinaWow, è proprio un cibo squisito!Wow, it is really delicious food!
- FrancescoSono d'accordo, è perfetto.I agree, it is perfect.
- MartinaDevo chiedere la ricetta.I have to ask for the recipe.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (cibo, squisito) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cibo, squisito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
