sugo
/ˈsu.ɡo/masculine
The English word gravy translates to Italian as sugo. Wiktionary also lists salsa.
Meaning: sauce (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sugo | /ˈsu.ɡo/ | masculine |
| salsa | /ˈsal.sa/ | feminine |
The term is used to refer to a sauce (noun).
Which one should you use?
While both sugo and salsa can mean sauce, sugo is most commonly used for meat-based sauces or juices used in pasta dishes. In contrast, salsa is a more general term for any sauce (like mayonnaise or tomato sauce).
How does it change in a sentence?
The diminutive form sughetto means little gravy/sauce and is frequently used to refer to a light or small amount of sauce/gravy, often used affectionately or to describe a light meat-based sauce.
How do you pronounce it?
sugo is pronounced /ˈsu.ɡo/. The stress is on the 1st of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While salsa is used in Italian, the word also refers to the specific genre of Latin American music and dance, borrowed from Spanish.
- Italian has a separate word for 'juice' called succo, which is a doublet of sugo. They share the same Latin ancestor but evolved to describe different liquid consistencies.
- The word salsa comes from the Latin word for 'salted'. This reflects the ancient practice of using salt as the primary preservative and flavoring for sauces.
Examples in context
- Il sugo era denso.The gravy was thick.This sentence is useful for describing the consistency of the sugo.Tatoeba #7263658 by Guybrush88, translation #7262276 by Hybrid
- Questo sugo di carne è molto denso.This gravy is very thick.This sentence is useful for describing a meat-based sugo.Tatoeba #7262847 by Guybrush88, translation #7262277 by Hybrid
- Il purè è spesso consumato con del sugo.Mashed potatoes are often eaten with gravy.This sentence is useful for noting that mashed potatoes are often eaten with sugo.Tatoeba #4551079 by Guybrush88, translation #1830537 by CK
- Posso avere del sugo per la carne, per favore?Can I have some gravy for the meat, please?
- Mi piace il sughetto al pomodoroI like tomato-based gravy/sauce
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Sofia are eating a Sunday roast at home.
- MatteoSofia, questo sugo è davvero buono.Sofia, this gravy is really good.
- SofiaGrazie, Matteo! Ne vuoi ancora un po'?Thanks, Matteo! Do you want some more?
- MatteoSì, per favore, versane ancora un po'.Yes, please, pour a little more.
- SofiaEcco a te, spero che ti piaccia.Here you go, I hope you like it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gravy” translations and entries sugo, salsa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salsa, sugo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
