latte
/ˈlat.te/masculine
latte is the Italian word for milk.
latte refers to the liquid produced by mammals. You will encounter it in various contexts, such as latte vegetale for plant-based milk (like soy or almond milk) or in the drink latte macchiato, which refers to a beverage where a small amount of coffee is added to milk.
Meaning: liquid (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
latte is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlat.te/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly order a latte in Italy expecting a coffee-and-milk beverage, but in Italy, latte means only plain milk. To order coffee with milk, use the word caffellatte instead.
When do people say it?
When ordering coffee in Italy, be aware that asking for just latte may result in being served a glass of plain milk rather than a coffee drink.
Did you know?
- The Milky Way galaxy is known in Italian as la Via Lattea, which literally translates to 'the milky way'.
- In traditional Italian folk remedies, latte e miele (milk and honey) is often cited as a soothing combination for a sore throat.
- The word latte shares an unexpected ancestral link with the English word 'lactate', both descending from the same Latin root.
Examples in context
- Io ho del latte.I've got milk.This sentence shows how to express possession of latte.Tatoeba #13766025 by Guybrush88, translation #13380135 by rul
- Io odio il latte.I hate milk.This sentence demonstrates expressing a dislike for latte.Tatoeba #3681983 by Guybrush88, translation #3177296 by Theocracy
- Il latte è acido.The milk is sour.This sentence describes the state of the latte.Tatoeba #4411226 by Guybrush88, translation #3132271 by CK
- Un bicchiere di latte per favoreA glass of milk, please
- 200 ml di latte200 ml of milk
- 1663 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are in the kitchen in the morning.
- SofiaLorenzo, hai comprato il latte?Lorenzo, did you buy the milk?
- LorenzoSì, è nel frigo.Yes, it is in the fridge.
- SofiaPerfetto, ne prendo un po' per la colazione.Perfect, I'll take a little for breakfast.
- LorenzoVuoi anche dei biscotti?Do you want some cookies too?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “milk” translations and entries latte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries latte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
