la cena è servita
In Italian, "dinner is served" is said as la cena è servita.
la cena è servita is used specifically to announce that the evening meal is ready to be eaten. While this phrase is dedicated to dinner, you might use Il pasto è pronto. to say "The meal is ready" for any type of meal throughout the day.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "the dinner is served".
Did you know?
- The word cena shares a common ancestor with the English word 'cut' via the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to divide' or 'to cut'. This reflects the ancient idea of a 'portion' of food being served.
- In Italy, the cena is typically eaten much later than in English-speaking countries, often starting after 8 p.m. or even 9 p.m.
- While la cena è servita sounds very elegant, it can sometimes carry a theatrical or even ironic tone, as if one were a butler in a period drama or a high-end hotel.
Examples in context
- La cena è servita.Dinner is served.This example shows the phrase la cena è servita used in a standard sentence.Tatoeba #3516540 by Guybrush88, translation #5341027 by Amittai
- La cena è servita!Dinner is served!This example shows the phrase la cena è servita used with an exclamation mark.Tatoeba #4984187 by Guybrush88, translation #9312599 by Nylez
Example conversation
Giulia calls Francesco to the dining room.
- GiuliaFrancesco, vieni, la cena è servita!Francesco, come, dinner is served!
- FrancescoArrivo subito, Giulia.I'm coming right now, Giulia.
- GiuliaHo cucinato un piatto speciale per te.I cooked a special dish for you.
- FrancescoGrazie mille, non vedo l'ora.Thank you so much, I can't wait.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cena, la, è, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
