mangia
To say "eat your food" in Italian, you use mangia.
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to start eating or to continue eating their meal. While Mangia il tuo cibo is a literal translation, you will more often hear speakers simply say mangia! or mangia tutto! (eat everything!) rather than explicitly mentioning "your food". You might also hear the phrase Mangia, che fa bene! to mean "Eat, it's good for you!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The form mangia is the imperative command form for one person in an informal setting. For a single person in a formal setting, the command changes to mangi. If you are speaking to a group of people, use mangiate.
When do people say it?
Rather than commanding someone to eat, Italians often use the phrase buon appetito to wish someone an enjoyable meal.
Did you know?
- The verb mangiare is used in the expression mangiare l'aria, which literally means 'to eat the air' but describes someone who is idling or wasting time.
- In certain regional dialects, the command to eat might be accompanied by a specific hand gesture, such as tapping the cheek or the table, to emphasize the command.
- In Italy, telling someone mangia can be a gesture of love and care rather than a strict order, as providing food is a central way of showing affection.
Examples in context
- Mangia il tuo cibo.Eat your food.This sentence shows how to say "Eat your food" using mangia.Tatoeba #2170805 by Guybrush88, translation #1513328 by Spamster
- Mangia lentamente il tuo cibo.Eat your food slowly.Tatoeba #7709094 by Guybrush88, translation #7697539 by Hybrid
- Mangia il tuo cibo, è delizioso!Eat your food, it's delicious!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A parent is encouraging their daughter to finish her lunch.
- MatteoSofia, mangia che si raffredda.Sofia, eat your food before it gets cold.
- SofiaNon ho molta fame, papà.I'm not very hungry, Dad.
- MatteoSolo ancora un pochino, per favore.Just a little bit more, please.
- SofiaVa bene, ne mangio ancora un po'.Alright, I'll eat a bit more.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
