cheesecake
/t͡ʃisˈkejk/feminine
Cheesecake in Italian can be expressed as cheesecake or torta al formaggio. Wiktionary also lists dolce al formaggio and caciotorta.
Meaning: dessert food (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cheesecake | /t͡ʃisˈkejk/ /t͡ʃisˈkɛjk/ |
feminine |
| torta al formaggio | /ˈtor.ta al forˈmad.d͡ʒo/ (word by word) | feminine |
| dolce al formaggio | /ˈdol.t͡ʃe al forˈmad.d͡ʒo/ (word by word) | masculine |
| caciotorta | feminine, humorous | |
| caciodolce | humorous, masculine |
The term refers to the dessert food.
Which one should you use?
cheesecake is a loanword from English, while torta al formaggio and dolce al formaggio are Italian translations. The humorous terms caciotorta and caciodolce are playful non-standard portmanteaus used for comedic effect.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You might use the more descriptive torta al formaggio fresco to formally indicate that the cheesecake is made specifically with fresh cheese. For a lighthearted or joking tone, you can use the humorous terms caciotorta or caciodolce.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word cheesecake is a feminine noun, so it takes the feminine article la (for example, la cheesecake). The term dolce al formaggio is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃisˈkejk/
Did you know?
- In Italy, traditional cheese-based desserts often use ricotta, making a torta al formaggio distinct from the heavy cream cheese used in American versions.
- The humorous terms caciotorta and caciodolce use cacio, a regional or archaic word for cheese common in Central Italy.
- The word torta comes from a Latin root meaning 'twisted', suggesting the original shape of the pastry was spiral or irregular.
Examples in context
- Per favore fai ancora la cheesecake.Please make cheesecake again.This sentence is useful for requesting that someone make the dessert again.Tatoeba #10613781 by Bethanielle, translation #6583540 by Eccles17
- La cheesecake è la mia torta preferita.Cheesecake is my favorite cake.This sentence is useful for stating a preference for cheesecake.Tatoeba #12019186 by Guybrush88, translation #3732861 by CK
- Vorrei avere della cheesecake per dessert.I'd like to have cheesecake for dessert.This sentence is useful for ordering cheesecake as a dessert.Tatoeba #13383454 by Guybrush88, translation #39475 by CK
- Hai mai assaggiato la cheesecake? È davvero buona!Have you ever tried cheesecake? It's really good!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A cafe in the afternoon.
- FrancescoVuoi ordinare una cheesecake?Do you want to order a cheesecake?
- SofiaSì, la cheesecake con i frutti di bosco è ottima.Yes, the cheesecake with berries is excellent.
- FrancescoPreferisci la versione con il cioccolato?Do you prefer the chocolate version?
- SofiaNo, preferisco quella classica, grazie.No, I prefer the classic one, thanks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheesecake” translations and entries cheesecake, torta al formaggio, dolce al formaggio, caciotorta, caciodolce, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (torta, al, formaggio, dolce) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caciotorta, cheesecake, dolce, formaggio, torta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
