spuntino
/spunˈti.no/
The Italian word for snack is spuntino.
spuntino refers to an item of food eaten between meals. If you are eating something small while on the move, you might use the informal phrase spuntino veloce to mean a quick snack.
Meaning: an item of food eaten between meals (noun)
Which one should you use?
While spuntino can refer to any small snack at any time of day, the word merenda specifically refers to a traditional afternoon snack, often eaten by children after school or by adults in the late afternoon.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of spuntino is spuntini.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /spunˈti.no/.
Did you know?
- While spuntino is a general term, using it for a late-night eating session might sound odd to an Italian, who would instead use the term spaghettata di mezzanotte for a late-night food moment.
- The verb spuntare can mean 'to appear' or 'to pop up', which mirrors how a spuntino is a small meal that pops up between the main ones.
- In some Italian regions, merenda was historically the main meal for agricultural workers during the harvest, often consisting of hearty bread and cheese.
Examples in context
- Mi serve uno spuntino.I need a snack.This sentence demonstrates how to express a need for a spuntino.Tatoeba #5946826 by Guybrush88, translation #881796 by CK
- Cosa ne dici di uno spuntino?How about a snack?This sentence shows how to suggest having a spuntino.Tatoeba #3665290 by ema_rega, translation #3636387 by CK
- Ti ho preparato uno spuntino.I made you a snack.This sentence illustrates telling someone that you have prepared a spuntino for them.Tatoeba #5981492 by Guybrush88, translation #3820755 by CK
- Mi piacerebbe una merenda leggeraI would like a light snack
- Prendo uno spuntino durante la pausaI have a snack during the break
- Mi fermo per uno spuntino veloce prima di andare a casaI'll stop for a quick snack before going home
- Vorrei qualcosa per la merendaI would like something for a snack
- Facciamo uno spuntino insieme dopo il lavoro?Shall we have a snack together after work?
- Ho bisogno di uno spuntino leggeroI need a light snack
- Mangio una merendina al mattino per avere energiaI eat a snack bar in the morning to have energy
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are studying in a library.
- FrancescoHai fame, Sofia?Are you hungry, Sofia?
- SofiaSì, mi serve uno spuntino.Yes, I need a snack.
- FrancescoHo un pacchetto di cracker.I have a pack of crackers.
- SofiaGrazie, Francesco, sei molto gentile.Thanks, Francesco, you are very kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry spuntino, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
