cibo
/ˈt͡ʃi.bo/
The English phrase "food" is translated into Italian as cibo.
cibo refers to any substance that people or animals eat to maintain life and growth.
Which one should you use?
While cibo is the standard term, you may encounter other words depending on the context. Alimento is a formal term for food in general, and nutrimento is a formal alternative that emphasizes the nourishing aspect of food. In informal or childish settings, the word pappa is used to refer to food.
How does it change in a sentence?
cibo is a masculine noun. Its plural form is cibi.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈtʃi.bo/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the verb mangiare meaning 'to eat' is frequently used as a noun il mangiare to refer to the food on the table.
- The Latin root of cibo, which is cibus, shares a common ancestor with the Spanish word cebo, though the meaning has shifted from 'food' to 'bait' for fishing or hunting.
- While cibo is the general term, the phrase la pappa è pronta is the quintessential way Italian parents announce that a child's meal is ready.
Examples in context
- Che buon mangiare!What good food!
- Vuoi la tua pappa?Do you want your food?
- Il cibo è pronto.The food is ready.
- Non mi piace questo cibo.I don't like this food.
- C'è molto cibo sul tavolo.There is a lot of food on the table.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- LorenzoGiulia, che cibo preferisci per cena?Giulia, what food do you prefer for dinner?
- GiuliaVorrei del cibo giapponese, Lorenzo.I would like some Japanese food, Lorenzo.
- LorenzoOttima idea, ordiniamo subito.Great idea, let's order right away.
- GiuliaPerfetto, scelgo io i piatti.Perfect, I will choose the dishes.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cibo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cibo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
