cena
/ˈt͡ʃe.na/feminine
The Italian word for "supper" is cena.
While English speakers might distinguish between "dinner" and "supper" based on the time of day or the level of formality, cena is the standard term used for the main meal eaten in the evening.
Meaning: dinner at night (noun)
Which one should you use?
cena is the standard term for the evening meal, whereas cenetta is used to describe a small, informal supper or a light evening meal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun cena is closely related to the verb cenare, which means "to have supper".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtʃe.na/. The word has 2 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In some regions, a very light cena might be replaced by an apericena, a hybrid of 'aperitivo' and 'cena' where drinks are accompanied by a buffet of snacks.
- The root of cena is connected to the idea of 'cutting' or 'dividing', much like the English word 'share' or 'portion'. It originally referred to the specific portion of food assigned to a person.
- In Italy, the evening cena typically happens much later than in the US or UK, often starting between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Examples in context
- Che c'è per cena?What's for supper?This sentence is useful for asking what food is being served for cena.Tatoeba #2252441 by Guybrush88, translation #1539914 by SHamp
- Io ho già cenato.I've already had my supper.This sentence is useful for stating that one has already eaten cena.Tatoeba #3656583 by Guybrush88, translation #31141 by CK
- A che ora è la cena?What time is supper?This sentence is useful for asking about the time of a cena.Tatoeba #806658 by Guybrush88, translation #594684 by CK
- Vorrei prenotare un tavolo per due per la cena, per favore.I would like to reserve a table for two for supper, please.
- Stasera cucino una cenetta leggera a casa.Tonight, I'm cooking a light supper at home.
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Giulia are deciding what to eat at home.
- MatteoLa cena è pronta, Giulia?Is dinner ready, Giulia?
- GiuliaSì, ho preparato una cena leggera.Yes, I prepared a light dinner.
- MatteoOttimo, ho molta fame.Great, I am very hungry.
- GiuliaAllora siediti a tavola.Then sit down at the table.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “supper” translations and entries cena, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cena, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
