Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| maiale | /maˈja.le/ | masculine |
| suino | /suˈi.no/ | masculine |
| carne suina | feminine |
The term for pork can change depending on whether you are speaking casually or using technical, commercial or culinary language. While maiale is the standard word for both the animal and the meat in everyday speech, you will also encounter terms like suino and carne suina in more professional settings. Specific cuts or varieties also have their own names, such as pancetta, which refers to cured pork belly.
Which one should you use?
In casual conversation, maiale is used to refer to both the pig (the animal) and the pork (the meat). For more formal or technical contexts, such as in veterinary science, commerce or specific culinary descriptions, suino is used to refer to the animal or its meat. If you are looking at a menu or reading food packaging, you will often see the phrase carne suina to specify that the meat is pork.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Northern Italy, specifically in Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria, the word Cotenna is used to refer to pork rinds or skin.
How does it change in a sentence?
maiale and suino are masculine nouns, while carne suina is a feminine phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
maiale is pronounced /maˈja.le/ with the stress on the second of the three syllables.
When do people say it?
In a colloquial sense, calling someone a maiale is a common insult in Italian, meaning they are a 'pig' (dirty or rude).
Did you know?
- The word maiale is surprisingly linked to the goddess Maia. It is believed to derive from the Latin word maiālis, which is associated with this ancient deity.
- In Italy, the pig is so central to rural culture that many traditional festivals revolve around the maialata, a community feast celebrating the slaughter of a pig.
- Calling someone a maiale in Italian can imply they are sexually inappropriate or a 'pervert' rather than just dirty.
Examples in context
- È maiale o niente.It's pork or nothing.This sentence uses maiale to show an extreme preference for pork.Tatoeba #4507145 by Guybrush88, translation #3989264 by danepo
- Io odio il maiale.I hate porkThis sentence uses maiale to express a dislike for pork.Tatoeba #12922410 by Guybrush88, translation #12846115 by Nyoman
- Non mangi il maiale.Don't eat pork.This sentence uses maiale as an instruction regarding pork consumption.Tatoeba #13164852 by Guybrush88, translation #11934761 by CK
- Hai mai assaggiato la porchetta di Roma? È deliziosa!Have you ever tried the Roman-style roasted pork? It's delicious!
- 177 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Giulia and Francesco are deciding what to cook for dinner.
- GiuliaFrancesco, cosa mangiamo stasera?Francesco, what are we eating tonight?
- FrancescoPossiamo cucinare del maiale arrosto.We can cook some roast pork.
- GiuliaOttima idea, mi piace il maiale.Great idea, I like pork.
- FrancescoAllora vado subito a comprarlo.Then I will go buy it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pork” translations and entries maiale, suino, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carne, maiale, suino, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
