granita
/ɡraˈni.ta/
The English phrase "italian ice" is granita in Italian.
granita refers to a frozen dessert made from syrup flavouring or fruit purées.
Meaning: frozen dessert made from syrup flavouring or fruit purées (noun)
Which one should you use?
While granita is the standard term for this frozen dessert, it is distinct from sorbetto (sorbet), which typically has a smoother, creamier texture.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables with the stress on the second syllable: /ɡraˈni.ta/.
Did you know?
- In Sicily, granita is traditionally eaten for breakfast with a warm brioche bun called a brioche col tuppo.
- The word granito (granite) shares the same linguistic root as granita, because both words describe something composed of small, hard grains.
- The term granita is the past participle of the verb granire, which means 'to granulate' or 'to make into grains'.
Examples in context
- Mi prendo una granita!I'll have a granita!
- Che sapore vuoi?What flavor do you want?
- La granita è squisita!The granita is delicious!
- granita al limoneLemon granita
- Vorrei una granita al limone.I would like a lemon granita.
- Questa granita alla fragola è molto fresca.This strawberry granita is very refreshing.
Example conversation
Two friends are standing at a seaside kiosk on a hot day.
- ChiaraFrancesco, hai voglia di una granita?Francesco, do you feel like having a granita?
- FrancescoSì, con questo caldo è perfetta.Yes, with this heat it is perfect.
- ChiaraIo prendo quella al limone.I'll have the lemon one.
- FrancescoOttima idea, la prendo anche io.Great idea, I'll have one too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry granita, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries granita, CC BY-SA 4.0.
