Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cornetto | /korˈnet.to/ | masculine |
| chiffero | /ˈkif.fe.ro/ | masculine |
| chifel | /ˈki.fel/ | masculine |
| chifer | /ˈki.fer/ | masculine |
| croissant | /krwasˈsan/ | masculine |
The terms refer to a flaky roll or pastry in the form of a crescent. While the word croissant specifically refers to the French-style pastry, cornetto is the standard Italian term for the pastry typically served during breakfast.
Which one should you use?
cornetto is the common standard term for the breakfast pastry, whereas croissant is used when specifically referring to the French version of the pastry. Other masculine forms include chiffero, chifel and chifer.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal term brioche is more prevalent in the north of Italy, particularly in cities like Milan.
How does it change in a sentence?
All forms of this word are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word cornetto is pronounced /korˈnet.to/ with three syllables and the stress on the second syllable.
When do people say it?
The Italian cornetto is often slightly different in texture and recipe from a French croissant, sometimes being more bread-like or containing more sugar.
Did you know?
- The word cornetto is also the name of a traditional Italian cone-shaped ice cream treat.
- The terms chifer, chifel and chiffero are linguistic fossils of the German word Kipfel. These specific regional terms connect the Italian pastry to Bavarian roots.
- The Italian word cornetto is used for the pastry even if it is straight and not curved like a crescent.
Examples in context
- Prenderò un caffè e un cornetto.I'll have a coffee and a croissant.This sentence is useful for ordering a coffee and a cornetto together.Tatoeba #1114761 by Guybrush88, translation #389647 by Scott
- Voglio mangiare un uovo fritto e un croissant.I want to eat a fried egg and croissant.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to eat a croissant with an egg.Tatoeba #11728116 by Guybrush88, translation #1667710 by lunazawa
- Il croissant francese è un dolce fatto a mezza luna.The French croissant is a crescent-shaped pastry.This sentence is useful for describing the French croissant as a crescent-shaped sweet.Tatoeba #2780096 by Guybrush88, translation #2326907 by Hybrid
- Vorrei un cornetto al cioccolato, per favore.I would like a croissant with chocolate, please.
- Mi prendo una brioche vuota, per cortesia.I'll take an empty croissant, please.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Matteo are at a breakfast cafe.
- ChiaraVuoi un cornetto con il caffè?Do you want a croissant with your coffee?
- MatteoSì, grazie, prendo un cornetto alla crema.Yes, thanks, I'll have a cream croissant.
- ChiaraPreferisci il cornetto vuoto o farcito?Do you prefer a plain or filled croissant?
- MatteoPer me un cornetto dolce è perfetto.For me, a sweet croissant is perfect.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “croissant” translations and entries cornetto, chiffero, chifel, chifer, croissant, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chifel, chifer, chiffero, cornetto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
