minestrone
/mi.nesˈtro.ne/
The English phrase 'minestrone soup' is minestrone in Italian.
minestrone refers to minestrone soup. In Italian, you do not need to add the word zuppa (soup) after minestrone, as the word itself implies a thick, vegetable-based soup.
What does it mean word for word?
The word minestrone is an augmentative form of minestra (soup), meaning a large or hearty soup.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 3rd syllable: /mi.nesˈtro.ne/.
Did you know?
- The word 'minestra' shares a linguistic ancestor with the English word 'minister', as both relate to the act of providing or serving something.
- In some Italian regions, minestrone is cooked until it is so thick that it is served as a main course rather than a starter, sometimes even eaten with a fork.
- In Italy, minestrone is often associated with the 'cucina povera' or 'poor kitchen', as it was traditionally a way to use up any leftover vegetable scraps to avoid waste.
Examples in context
- Vorrei un minestrone, per favore.I would like a minestrone, please.
- Questo minestrone è molto saporito.This minestrone is very tasty.
- Hai preparato il minestrone per cena?Did you prepare the minestrone for dinner?
Example conversation
Chiara and Lorenzo are deciding what to eat for lunch at home.
- ChiaraCosa mangiamo oggi a pranzo?What are we eating for lunch today?
- LorenzoTi va un bel minestrone caldo?Do you feel like a nice warm minestrone?
- ChiaraSì, è un'ottima idea.Yes, that is a great idea.
- LorenzoAllora vado subito in cucina.Then I am going to the kitchen right away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry minestrone, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
