polpettina
A little meatball is polpettina in Italian.
polpettina names a small meatball served as food. It also works as a sweet pet name, as in Vieni qua, polpettina dolce! (Come here, sweet little meatball!).
What does it mean word for word?
polpettina is the word for meatball with a diminutive ending that makes it small.
Which one should you use?
You may also hear polpette in miniatura (miniature meatballs), as in Abbiamo preparato delle polpette in miniatura per l'aperitivo. (We made miniature meatballs for the appetizer.).
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural is polpettine, as in Vorrei ordinare un piatto di polpettine, per favore. (I would like to order a plate of little meatballs, please.).
Did you know?
- While polpettina is used for food or pets, the masculine form polpettone is often used to describe a long, boring book or a tedious speech.
- The word polpettina is built from the root polpa, which means 'pulp' or 'flesh'.
- Unlike the large meatballs often found in American-Italian cuisine, authentic Italian polpettine are traditionally served as an appetizer or a side dish rather than a main course on top of pasta.
Examples in context
- Questa polpettina è molto saporita.This little meatball is very tasty.
- Vuoi una polpettina calda?Do you want a warm little meatball?
- Ho preparato una polpettina per ogni bambino.I prepared one little meatball for every child.
Example conversation
A mother is feeding her son at the dining table.
- MatteoMatteo, mangia questa polpettina.Matteo, eat this little meatball.
- SofiaÈ troppo calda, mamma.It is too hot, mom.
- MatteoAspetta un momento allora.Wait a moment then.
- SofiaGrazie, adesso è perfetta.Thank you, now it is perfect.
