Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cibo | /ˈt͡ʃi.bo/ | masculine |
| alimento | /a.liˈmen.to/ | masculine |
| vitto | /ˈvit.to/ | masculine |
In Italian, there are different ways to refer to food depending on whether you are speaking generally or using technical, formal or administrative terms.
Which one should you use?
cibo is the general word for food, while alimento is more technical and refers to nourishment or a specific foodstuff. vitto is used in formal or administrative contexts to refer to provisions, often specifically meaning food and drink provided to people, such as in a contract or for guests.
How does it change in a sentence?
cibo is a masculine singular noun. Its plural form is cibi, though it is much more common to use the singular form when referring to food in a general sense.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈtʃi.bo/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The Italian word cibo is a linguistic cousin to the Spanish word cebo, which means 'bait' rather than 'food'.
- In Italian culture, the concept of food is so central that cibo is often replaced by the specific name of the meal, such as pranzo for lunch or cena for dinner, even when referring to the food itself.
- The term alimento is derived from the Latin alimentum, which is the root of the English word 'alimentary'.
Examples in context
- Io ho del cibo.I have food.This sentence shows how to express possession of cibo.Tatoeba #2433211 by Guybrush88, translation #2245884 by CK
- Io non ho cibo.I have no food.This sentence shows how to express the absence of cibo.Tatoeba #2556082 by Guybrush88, translation #2549665 by CK
- Io amo il cibo.I love food.This sentence shows how to express a liking for cibo.Tatoeba #12784281 by Guybrush88, translation #12630729 by rul
- Il cibo in Italia è famoso in tutto il mondo.Food in Italy is famous worldwide.
- Una dieta equilibrata richiede una varietà di alimenti freschi.A balanced diet requires a variety of fresh food.
- Le vivande servite a cena erano deliziose.The food served at dinner was delicious.
- Che tipo di cibo preferisci mangiare?What kind of food do you prefer to eat?
- Ho comprato un po' di cibo per il pranzo.I bought some food for lunch.
- Questo boccone è davvero saporito!This bite is really tasty!
- 2058 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are in the kitchen planning a meal.
- FrancescoMartina, c'è del cibo in casa?Martina, is there any food in the house?
- MartinaSì, ho comprato del cibo fresco.Yes, I bought some fresh food.
- FrancescoOttimo, allora cucino io.Great, then I will cook.
- MartinaGrazie, Francesco, sei molto gentile.Thank you, Francesco, you are very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “food” translations and entries cibo, alimento, vitto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alimento, cibo, vitto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
