granita
/ɡraˈni.ta/
The Italian phrase for snow cone is granita.
A granita is a semi-frozen dessert with a coarser, crystalline texture made from sugar, water and fruit or coffee.
Which one should you use?
While an English 'snow cone' is often shaved ice with syrup, a 'granita' is a semi-frozen dessert with a coarser, crystalline texture made from sugar, water and fruit or coffee.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of granita is granite.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable: /ɡraˈni.ta/.
Did you know?
- In Sicily, granita is traditionally eaten for breakfast, often paired with a warm brioche bun that is dipped into the frozen treat.
- The word granita comes from the verb granire, which means 'to turn into grains'.
- In some regions of Italy, the distinction between granita and sorbetto is strict, as a sorbet is churned and smooth while a granita must remain grainy.
Examples in context
- Buongiorno, vorrei una granita al limone, per favore.Good morning, I would like a lemon snow cone, please.
- Mi scusi, c'è qualche gusto di granita senza zucchero?Excuse me, do you have any sugar-free flavors of snow cone?
- Vorrei una granita al limone, per favore.I would like a lemon snow cone, please.
Example conversation
Giulia and Matteo are walking through a sunny town square.
- GiuliaFa caldo, vogliamo prendere una granita?It's hot, shall we get a snow cone?
- MatteoSì, è un'ottima idea, Giulia!Yes, that is a great idea, Giulia!
- GiuliaQuale gusto scegli, Matteo?Which flavor are you choosing, Matteo?
- MatteoPrendo una granita alla fragola.I'll have a strawberry snow cone.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry granita, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries granita, CC BY-SA 4.0.
