cicchetto
/t͡ʃikˈket.to/
In Italian, a shot of alcohol is called cicchetto.
A cicchetto refers to a small serving of an alcoholic drink, which is often served as an appetizer or alongside snacks.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of cicchetto is cicchetti, which refers to multiple small snacks or shots.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /tʃikˈket.to/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- In Venice, the term ombra for a small glass of wine literally means 'shadow'. This comes from the custom of wine sellers shading their barrels with awnings to keep the wine cool.
- The word cicchetto traces its roots back to the French term 'chiquet', meaning a small portion or a bit.
- In Venice, you can participate in a 'giro d'ombra', where you move from one bar to another to enjoy a small glass of wine and various cicchetti.
Examples in context
- Vorrei un bicchierino di grappa, per favore.I would like a shot of grappa, please.
- Posso avere una grappa, per cortesia?Can I have a shot of grappa, please?
Example conversation
Alessandro and Martina are at a small Venetian bar.
- AlessandroCosa prendi da bere, Martina?What are you having to drink, Martina?
- MartinaVorrei solo un cicchetto veloce.I would just like a quick shot.
- AlessandroOttima idea, lo prendo anche io.Great idea, I'll have one too.
- MartinaAllora ordiniamo subito!Then let's order right away!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cicchetto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cicchetto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
