pesto
/ˈpes.to/masculine
The English phrase 'pesto' is translated into Italian as pesto.
pesto refers to a type of Italian sauce, especially one served with pasta. Because the word is the same in both English and Italian, it can be used in any formal setting.
Meaning: an Italian sauce especially for pasta (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word pesto is the past participle of the verb pestare, which means 'to crush' or 'to pound'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Different regional varieties of pesto exist. Pesto alla genovese is the classic version from Genoa in the Liguria region and is specifically made with basil. Other regional versions include Pesto Trapanese from the Trapani province in Sicily and Pesto Calabrese from Calabria.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a masculine noun, pesto is preceded by the masculine singular article il (e.g., il pesto).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈpes.to/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word pesto is also the Italian word for 'beating' or 'thrashing' someone in a physical fight.
- Traditional pesto alla genovese is never heated in a pan because cooking the basil destroys its delicate aroma and turns the sauce brown.
- The English word 'pestle' is a direct linguistic relative of the Italian pesto and pestare.
Examples in context
- Oggi ricordati di usare il pesto per la pasta.Remember to use the pesto sauce for the pasta today.This sentence is useful for remembering to use the sauce for pasta.Tatoeba #4706082 by Guybrush88, translation #8900800 by Mario8286
- Il basilico è essenziale nella preparazione del pesto alla genovese.Basil is essential in preparing Genoese pesto.This sentence highlights that basil is essential for making pesto alla genovese.Tatoeba #4547552 by Guybrush88, translation #10927292 by JeanM
- Buongiorno, vorrei una pasta al pesto, per favore.Good day, I would like a pasta with pesto, please.
- Mi consigliate un piatto con il pesto?Do you recommend a dish with pesto?
- Posso avere del pesto extra da mettere sulla pizza?Can I have some extra pesto to put on my pizza?
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are deciding what to cook for dinner at home.
- LorenzoVuoi mangiare la pasta al pesto stasera?Do you want to eat pasta with pesto tonight?
- MartinaSì, mi piace molto il pesto.Yes, I really like pesto.
- LorenzoHo comprato del pesto fresco al supermercato.I bought some fresh pesto at the supermarket.
- MartinaPerfetto, allora preparo subito la pasta.Perfect, then I'll prepare the pasta right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pesto” translations and entries pesto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
