pranzare
/pranˈd͡za.re/
To eat lunch in Italian is pranzare.
Pranzare is a common, general way to say 'to eat lunch'.
Which one should you use?
While English often uses the verb 'eat' with the noun 'lunch', Italian uses the single verb pranzare to express the entire action.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb pranzare is an intransitive verb and does not take a direct object.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of pranzare is /pranˈdza.re/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The verb pranzare comes from the noun pranzo, which is derived from the Latin 'prandium', meaning a light snack or a morsel taken between meals.
- In some professional Italian settings, the time for pranzare is strictly observed, and it is common for shops and small businesses to close entirely for a few hours in the afternoon.
- In Italy, the time one begins to pranzare can vary significantly between the north and the south, often shifting as late as 2:30 PM in southern regions.
Examples in context
- È ora di pranzare.It's time to eat lunch.Tatoeba #1068384 by Guybrush88, translation #433693 by CK
- Tom iniziò a pranzare.Tom began to eat lunch.Tatoeba #5477998 by Guybrush88, translation #5471695 by CK
- Non voglio pranzare ora.I don't want to eat lunch now.Tatoeba #2983566 by Guybrush88, translation #257469 by CK
- Vorrei pranzare quiI would like to eat lunch here.
- Potremmo pranzare insieme domani per discutere dei dettagli?Could we have lunch together tomorrow to discuss the details?
- Non vedo l'ora di mangiare una buona pizza per pranzo oggi!I can't wait to eat a good pizza for lunch today!
- Possiamo fare la pausa pranzo più tardi? Ho ancora molto da fare.Can we take our lunch break later? I still have a lot to do.
- Oggi voglio farmi una scorpacciata a pranzo, ho fame!Today, I want to feast for lunch, I'm hungry!
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Matteo are in the office kitchen.
- GiuliaMatteo, vuoi pranzare insieme oggi?Matteo, do you want to eat lunch together today?
- MatteoSì, volentieri. Dove andiamo?Yes, I'd love to. Where shall we go?
- GiuliaC'è un nuovo posto vicino qui.There is a new place near here.
- MatteoPerfetto, andiamo a pranzare lì!Perfect, let's go eat lunch there!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pranzare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pranzare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
