No other verb is as crucial as mangiare (to eat) in Italy. From saying an enthusiastic “Let’s eat!” to pairing it with Italian words for food, this verb is a must in daily conversations. Take this guide as your cheat sheet for using “eat” in Italian in every situation. Since Italian verbs can be tricky, you’ll find tips, examples, and common phrases to practice while learning Italian.
Table of Contents
How to say ‘eat’ in Italian
If you want to say “eat” in Italian, the word is mangia, which is the imperative form of the verb mangiare (to eat). Understanding the difference between the two is essential to use this verb properly.
| Italian | Pronunciation |
| mangia | MAHN-jah |
| mangiare | mahn-JAH-reh |
When to use mangia (eat) vs mangiare (to eat)
Mangia is technically a command, often used in a kind and polite way:
- Mangia questa. = Eat this.
- Mangia la verdura. = Eat your vegetables.
Mangiare is the basic conjugated form you use after another verb or in a general statement:
- Vuole qualcosa da mangiare. = She wants something to eat.
- Non mangiare questo. = Do not eat this.
How to conjugate mangiare (to eat) in Italian
In Italian grammar, verbs fall into three groups based on the infinitive ending: -ARE, -ERE, and -IRE. The verb mangiare belongs to the -ARE verbs in Italian, which follow regular and easy-to-learn conjugation patterns.
The present: ‘I eat/am eating’ in Italian
The present tense is to discuss current or regular actions:
- Io mangio un panino. = I am eating a sandwich.
- La ragazza mangia con le amiche. = She is eating with her friends.
If the activity is ongoing, add the irregular verb stare (to be/to stay) before:
- I passeggeri in prima classe stanno mangiando. = The passengers in first class are eating.
The past: ‘I ate/have eaten’ in Italian
Past tenses are key to telling a story because when you eat good food, you want to talk about it!
- Mangiavo sempre in quel ristorante a Trastevere. = I used to always eat at that restaurant in Trastevere.
- Hai mangiato la verdura? = Have you eaten your vegetables?
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Language recap: – Vorrei… (I like…) – Per me… (For me…) – Io prendo.. (I’ll have…) – Con (With) – Senza (Without) – Salame (Pepperoni) – Una fetta (A slice) – Pizza da asporto (Pizza to-go / takeout) Vorrei una fetta con ____? #italia #visitingitaly #italytravel #italtytrip #italianpizza #italianrestaurant #italiantiktok #learnitalian #italianforbeginners #italianlanguage #italiano #italianlesson
Other words Italians use for certain meals instead of ‘eat’
One of the most common mistakes among English speakers is using mangiare (to eat) before the name of a meal. In Italian, you should replace the verbs “to eat” and “to have” with fare (“to do”) and other meal-specific verbs. Let’s break down the differences.
Fare colazione (to eat breakfast)
To say “I eat breakfast” in Italian, say Io faccio colazione (literally, “I do breakfast”).
- Lei quando fa colazione? = When do you eat breakfast? (formal you)
- Io faccio colazione prima di lavorare. = I eat/have breakfast before I work.
Use fare (to do) also when talking about merenda (afternoon snack) and aperitivo (aperitif).
- I bambini stanno facendo la merenda. = The children are having a snack.
- Facciamo aperitivo stasera? = Shall we have an aperitif tonight?
Pranzare (to eat lunch)
Instead of “eat” in Italian, native speakers use the dedicated verb pranzare for eating pranzo (lunch):
- Vorreste pranzare con noi? = Would you like to eat lunch with us?
- Tu con chi pranzi? = Who are you eating lunch with?
- Io pranzo con mia sorella. = I am eating lunch with my sister.
Cenare (to eat dinner)
Similarly, for cena (dinner), Italians use a specific verb: cenare (to have dinner):
- Loro cenano al tramonto. = They eat dinner at sunset.
- Noi ceniamo fuori. = We are eating dinner outside.
- Vogliamo cenare sulla spiaggia. = We want to eat dinner on the beach.
How to say ‘let’s eat’ in Italian
Most ways to say “Let’s eat!” are similar to English, but there are also standard Italian expressions worth practicing.
| Italian | English |
| A tavola! | To the table! (used by parents or hosts at home) |
| Andiamo a mangiare! | Let’s go eat! (when heading to the meal) |
| Dai, mangiamo!* | Let’s eat! |
| È ora di mangiare! | Time to eat! (when feeling hungry or it’s your usual meal time) |
| È pronto! | It’s ready! |
| Si mangia! | Let’s eat! (when food is coming or served) |
* Dai (give) means “let’s” or “c’mon” in Italian slang.
Frequently asked questions about ‘eat’ in Italian
Let’s see some quick answers to keep in mind to avoid confusion about all the ways to say “eat” in Italian.
What are other Italian verbs for ‘to eat’?
The Italian verb for “to eat” is mangiare. Some synonyms with different nuances include
- pranzare = to have lunch
- cenare = to have dinner
- fare colazione/merenda = to have breakfast/an afternoon snack
- fare aperitivo = to have an aperitif
What does mangia mangia mean?
Saying “eat eat” in Italian to encourage someone to eat is very common.
- Mangia mangia, non fare complimenti. = Eat, eat! Don’t be shy.
What do Italians say before eating?
Before starting a meal, Italians often say
- Mangiamo! = Let’s eat!
- Buon appetito! = Enjoy your meal!
What do Italians say when they toast?
The most common way to say “cheers” in Italian is Salute! (to your health).
Language immersion will help you a lot as you get familiar with the various words around food in Italy. An approach like Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion method guides you through bite-sized lessons and real-life examples, making grammar natural and intuitive.
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