resto
/ˈrɛs.to/masculine
The English phrase remnant can be translated into Italian using several words, most commonly resto. Wiktionary also lists rimanenza and avanzo.
Meaning: small portion remaining of a larger thing or group (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| resto | /ˈrɛs.to/ | masculine |
| rimanenza | /ri.maˈnɛn.t͡sa/ | feminine |
| avanzo | /aˈvan.t͡so/ | masculine |
| residuo | /reˈzi.du.o/ /reˈsi.du.o/ |
masculine |
All these words describe a small portion remaining of a larger thing or group.
Which one should you use?
resto is the most common and general term for a remainder or leftover, used in both physical and abstract contexts. residuo is used for technical, chemical or mathematical remnants, such as a residue left after a reaction or a remainder in division. rimanenza is a more formal or literary term used to describe the state of remaining or a physical remnant left behind.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of resto is resti. The plural form of avanzo is avanzi, which is the standard way to refer to food leftovers (leftover food).
How do you pronounce it?
resto is pronounced /ˈrɛs.to/. The stress is on the 1 of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In Italian, if you describe someone as un resto, it is a harsh insult implying they are a useless scrap or a leftover of a person.
- The word resto is also the root of the Italian word for 'change' when you receive money back after a purchase.
- The word avanzo comes from the verb avanzare, which can mean both 'to remain' and 'to advance' or 'move forward'.
Examples in context
- Il resto di una cenaThe remnants of a dinner
- Il residuo industrialeIndustrial residue
- Gli avanzi della cenaThe remnants of dinner
- Ho mangiato quello che è rimastoI ate what was left
- Lui vive degli avanzi del pranzo.He lives off the remnants of lunch.
- Puoi buttare via i residui di legno.You can throw away the wooden remnants.
- Il resto del tempo lo passerò a leggere.The rest of the time I will spend reading.
- Hai preso il resto del pane?Did you take the rest of the bread?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “remnant” translations and entries resto, rimanenza, avanzo, residuo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries avanzo, residuo, resto, rimanenza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
