lievito
masculine
The English phrase yeast is lievito in Italian.
lievito is a masculine noun used to describe the cake or dried granules used to make bread dough rise.
Meaning: cake or dried granules used to make bread dough rise (noun)
Which one should you use?
While lievito is the general term, lievito di birra specifically refers to commercial brewer's yeast, which often comes in granules or cubes for bread. In contrast, lievito madre is used specifically to refer to a sourdough starter or mother yeast.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun lievito (yeast) is the root of the verb lievitare, which means to rise or to leaven.
Did you know?
- The verb lievitare is used metaphorically in Italian to describe a price or a situation that is increasing rapidly, similar to the English 'ballooning'.
- The word lievito is a direct linguistic relative of the English word 'levity', which describes a lighthearted or lack of seriousness.
- In Italy, lievito madre is often treated like a family heirloom, with some bakers maintaining a sourdough starter that is over a hundred years old.
Examples in context
- Il lievito fa fermentare la birra.Yeast makes beer ferment.This sentence is useful for showing how lievito makes beer ferment.Tatoeba #3266579 by Guybrush88, translation #66760 by CM
- Il lievito fa lievitare l'impasto.Yeast makes dough rise.This sentence is useful for showing how lievito makes dough rise.Tatoeba #11637890 by jacopofar, translation #66758 by CM
- Il lievito viene usato per fare il pane.Yeast is used in making bread.This sentence is useful for showing how lievito is used in making bread.Tatoeba #3668623 by Guybrush88, translation #3205377 by orcrist
- Per fare un'ottima pizza, devi utilizzare il lievito di birra.To make a great pizza, you have to use yeast.
- Hai comprato il lievito per il pane?Did you buy the yeast for the bread?
- Ho preparato un nuovo impasto con la pasta madre.I made a new dough with the sourdough starter.
- Vorrei una torta al cioccolato. Mi serve il lievito per dolci.I would like a chocolate cake. I need yeast for sweets.
- Il panettiere ha aggiunto il lievito di panificazione per fare il pane.The baker added baking yeast to make the bread.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Sofia are in the kitchen preparing to bake.
- LorenzoSofia, hai preso il lievito?Sofia, did you get the yeast?
- SofiaSì, l'ho messo sul tavolo.Yes, I put it on the table.
- LorenzoOttimo, iniziamo subito l'impasto.Great, let's start the dough immediately.
- SofiaPerfetto, sono pronta per aiutare.Perfect, I am ready to help.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yeast” translations and entries lievito, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lievito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
