insipido
/inˈsi.pi.do/
The English word "tasteless" can be translated into Italian as insipido. Wiktionary also lists insapore.
Meaning: having no flavour (adj)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| insipido | /inˈsi.pi.do/ |
| insapore | /in.saˈpo.re/ |
In a literal sense, these words describe food or liquids that have no flavor. Metaphorically, just as in English, insipido can be used to describe a person or a creative work, such as a book or a movie, that is dull, uninteresting or lacks character.
What does it mean word for word?
The word insipido is composed of the prefix in- (not/without) and sapido (flavorful/salty), literally meaning "without flavor".
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective insipido must agree in gender with the noun it describes. For example, you should use the feminine form insipida when describing a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /inˈsi.pi.do/.
Did you know?
- The word sapere, which forms the root of insipido, means both 'to know' and 'to taste'. This creates a linguistic link between intellectual knowledge and sensory flavor in Italian.
- The adjective sapido is often used specifically to describe something that is adequately salty, rather than just generally flavorful. In Italian cooking, a chef might ask you to make a dish more sapido to mean adding more salt.
- While 'tasteless' in English can often imply a lack of social grace or bad manners, calling an Italian person insipido focuses more on them being dull and uninteresting.
Examples in context
- Il riso è insapore.The rice is tasteless.This sentence is useful for describing the rice using the form insapore.Tatoeba #13136389 by Guybrush88, translation #2569152 by Eldad
- L'acqua è insapore, inodore e incolore.Water is tasteless, odourless and colourless.This sentence is useful for describing water using the form insapore.Tatoeba #13309259 by Adelpa, translation #11126722 by sundown
- Quel piatto è insipido.That dish is tasteless.
- La zuppa è completamente priva di sapore.The soup is completely tasteless.
- Questa bevanda è completamente senza sapore.This drink is completely tasteless.
- La torta è davvero scialba, non c'è gusto!The cake is really tasteless, there's no flavor!
- Terribilmente insipidoTerribly tasteless
- Estremamente scialboExtremely bland
- Completamente privo di saporeCompletely flavorless
- Più insipido di una fetta di paneMore tasteless than a slice of bread
- Senza sapore come l'acquaTasteless like water
- Questo brodo è davvero insipido.This broth is really tasteless.
Example conversation
Francesco and Sofia are tasting a soup they cooked together.
- FrancescoSofia, prova questa zuppa.Sofia, taste this soup.
- SofiaÈ un po' insipido, non trovi?It's a bit tasteless, don't you think?
- FrancescoSì, forse serve più sale.Yes, maybe it needs more salt.
- SofiaAggiungine un po' adesso.Add a bit now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tasteless” translations and entries insipido, insapore, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
