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List of English words of Italian origin

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{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=August 2022}}

This is a partial list of known or supposed Italian loanwords in English. A separate list of terms used in music can be found at List of Italian musical terms used in English:

{{incomplete list|date=May 2013}}

Music

{{main|Italian musical terms used in English}}

Art and architecture

  • Antics (from Italian antico, meaning 'old, ancient')
  • Apartment (from Italian appartamento through French appartement)
  • Arabesque (from Italian arabesco through French arabesque)Harper Collins, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Architrave
  • Archivolt (Italian: archivolto)
  • Balcony (from Italian balcone)
  • Bas-relief (from Italian bassorilievo through French)
  • Belvedere (in Italian means a view point)
  • Bust (from Italian busto through French)
  • Cameo (Italian: cameo or cammeo)
  • Campanile
  • Caricature (from Italian caricatura through French)
  • Carton (from Italian cartone through French)
  • Cartoon (from Italian cartone through French)
  • Chiaroscuro (from chiaro-oscuro 'light-dark', an art technique making strong use of bold shadow and harsh lighting){{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=chiaroscuro|title = Chiaroscuro | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Corridor (from Italian corridoio through French)
  • Cupola
  • Dado (in Italian meaning 'dice')
  • Fresco (Italian: affresco from the expression a fresco)
  • Gesso
  • Graffiti (Italian: graffito, pl. graffiti)
  • Grotto (in Italian grotta, meaning 'cave')
  • Impasto
  • Intaglio
  • Loggia (from French loge)
  • Madonna (in Medieval Italian meant Lady, in Modern Italian indicates Mary the Virgin)
  • Magenta (after the Italian town)
  • Mezzanine (Italian mezzanino, from mezzano 'middle')
  • Modello (Italian modello 'model, sketch')
  • Moresco
  • Parapet (from Italian parapetto through French)
  • Patina
  • Patio
  • Pergola
  • Piazza
  • Pietà (in Italian means 'pity')
  • Portico
  • Putto (Italian putto 'baby', 'cherub')
  • Replica (in Italian means 'repeat performance')
  • Sgraffito (Italian sgraffiare 'to scratch, write')
  • Stucco (in Italian means 'plaster')
  • Tempera
  • Terra-cotta (in Italian without hyphen)
  • Terrazza (in Italian means 'terrace', 'balcony')
  • Torso
  • Veranda
  • Villa

Literature and language

  • Canto (from canto 'song', originally from Latin. A section of a long or epic poem){{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=canto|title = Canto | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Ditto (Old Italian for 'said')
  • Lingua franca (Italian lingua Franca, 'Frankish language', its usage to mean a common tongue originated from its meaning in Arabic and Greek during the Middle Ages, whereby all Western Europeans were called 'Franks' or Faranji in Arabic and Phrankoi in Greek)http://www.komvos.edu.gr/dictonlineplsql/simple_search.display_full_lemma?the_lemma_id=16800&target_dict=1, Lexico Triantaphyllide online dictionary, Greek Language Center (Kentro Hellenikes Glossas), lemma Franc ( Φράγκος Phrankos), Lexico tes Neas Hellenikes Glossas, G.Babiniotes, Kentro Lexikologias(Legicology Center) LTD Publications, {{ISBN|960-86190-1-7}}, lemma Franc and (prefix) franco- (Φράγκος Phrankos and φράγκο- phranko-).[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=lingua+franca Douglas Harper Etymology Dictionary (2001)]
  • Motto (Italian motto 'word'){{Cite web|url=http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/motto|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514005139/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/motto|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 14, 2013|title=Oxford Languages | the Home of Language Data}}
  • Novel (Italian novella 'tale')
  • Ottava rima
  • Rodomontade (from Rodomonte, a character in Italian Renaissance epic poems Orlando innamorato and its sequel Orlando furioso){{Cite web|url=http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-rod1.htm|title = World Wide Words: Rodomontade}}
  • Sestina
  • Sonnet (from Italian sonetto through French)
  • Stanza

Theatre and dramatic arts

  • Buffoon (from Italian buffone "jester" via French){{cite web | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/buffoon | title=Buffoon | Etymology of buffoon by etymonline }}
  • Cantastoria (from canta historia 'sung story' or 'singing history', a theatrical form,"[http://www.thelmagazine.com/TheMeasure/archives/2011/06/21/cantastoria-centuries-old-performance-style-making-a-comeback Cantastoria: Centuries-Old Performance Style Making a Comeback]", The L Magazine. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2013 in modern Italian: cantastorie)
  • Commedia dell'arte
  • Extravaganza (in Italian stravaganza, meaning 'extravagance')
  • Finale, Series finale
  • Imbroglio (in Italian means 'cheat')
  • Mask (from Italian maschera though Middle French masque, from Medieval Latin masca 'mask, specter, nightmare'.{{cite web | url = https://www.etymonline.com/word/mask#etymonline_v_9675 | title = Mask (noun) | work = Etymology Online }}
  • Punch (from the Italian character Pulcinella)
  • Scenario (in Italian also meaning 'scenery'){{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110105101229/http://www.myetymology.com/english/scenery.html Article title]}}
  • Sotto voce (Italian sottovoce 'in a low voice')

Arts in general and aesthetics

  • Burlesque (from Italian burlesco through French)
  • Capriccio: From capriccio 'sudden motion'. In music, a free composition; in art, a juxtaposing of elements to create a fantastic or imagined architecture{{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=Capriccio|title = Capriccio | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Cinquecento (Italian Cinquecento from millecinquecento '1500') The culture of the 16th century{{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=Cinquecento|title = Cinquecento | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Grotesque (from Italian grottesco through French)
  • Pastiche (from Italian pasticcio through French)
  • Picturesque (from Italian pittoresco through French)
  • Quattrocento (Italian Quattrocento from millequattrocento '1400') The culture of the 15th century{{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=Quattrocento|title = Quattrocento | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Studio

Colours

  • Orange{{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=Orange|title = Orange | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Lava (color)
  • Magenta{{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=Magenta|title=Magenta | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Rosso corsa
  • Sepia (from Italian seppia, meaning 'cuttlefish')
  • Sienna (from Italian terra di Siena 'soil of Siena')
  • Terra cotta (color)
  • Umber (from Latin umbra 'shadow', and the region of its origin, Umbria)

Cuisine

{{main|List of Italian dishes}}

  • Al dente
  • Al fresco
  • Antipasto
  • Artichoke (from articiocco, Northern Italian variant of Old Italian arcicioffo){{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=artichoke&allowed_in_frame=0|title=Artichoke | Origin and meaning of artichoke by Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Baguette (through French baguette from Italian bacchetta){{Cite web|url=http://www.cnrtl.fr/etymologie/baguette|title=BAGUETTE : Etymologie de BAGUETTE}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=baguette|title = Baguette | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Banquet (from Italian banchetto through French)
  • Barista (from barista 'bartender'. A preparer of espresso-based coffee){{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=barista|title=Barista | Origin and meaning of barista by Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Bergamot (Italian: bergamotto)
  • Biscuit (through French from Italian biscotto, meaning 'cooked twice')
  • Bologna (after the Italian city)
  • Bruschetta
  • Broccoli (Italian: broccolo, pl. broccoli)
  • Candy (from Middle English sugre candy, part translation of Middle French sucre candi, from Old French çucre candi, part translation of Italian zucchero candito, from zucchero sugar + Arabic قاندل qandI candied, from Persian قند qand cane sugar; ultimately from Sanskrit खुड् khanda 'piece of sugar', perhaps from Dravidian){{OEtymD|candy}}
  • Cannelloni (Italian: cannellone, pl. cannelloni)
  • Cantaloupe (after the Italian village of Cantalupo in Sabina through French; in Italian the fruit is simply called melone or Cantalupo)
  • Canteen (from Italian cantina "wine cellar, vault" via French){{cite web | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/canteen | title=Canteen | Etymology of canteen by etymonline }}
  • Cappuccino (from cappuccino 'little hood' or 'Capuchin'. A reference to the similarity between the drink's colour and that of the brown hoods of Capuchin friars){{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=Cappuccino|title=Cappuccino | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Cauliflower (originally cole florye, from Italian cavolfiore meaning 'flowered cabbage'{{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=cauliflower|title = Cauliflower | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Chianti
  • Chipolata (from Italian cipolla, meaning 'onion')
  • Ciabatta (whose Italian basic meaning is 'slipper')
  • Coffee (from Italian caffè, from Turkish kahveh, and Arabic qahwah, perhaps from Kaffa region of Ethiopia, a home of the plant){{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=coffee|title = Coffee | Origin and meaning of coffee by Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Conchiglie
  • Dolcelatte
  • Espresso (from espresso 'expressed')
  • Farfalle
  • Fava
  • Frascati
  • Fusilli (Italian: fusillo, pl. fusilli; a derivative form of the word fuso, meaning 'spindle')
  • Gelatine (from Italian gelatina through French)
  • Gnocchi (Italian: gnocco, pl. gnocchi)
  • Gorgonzola (after the village near Milan)
  • Granita
  • Grappa
  • Grissini
  • Gusto
  • Lasagne (Italian: lasagna, pl. lasagne)
  • Latte or caffè latte (Italian: caffellatte or caffè e latte 'coffee and milk')
  • Latte macchiato (Italian latte macchiato 'stained milk')
  • Macaroni (Italian maccherone, pl. maccheroni)
  • Macchiato or "caffè macchiato" (from macchiato 'stained', espresso coffee with a small dash of milk)http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/macchiato
  • Maraschino
  • Marinate (Italian: marinare)
  • Marzipan (through German from Italian marzapane)
  • Martini cocktail (named after the famous brand of vermouth)
  • Minestrone
  • Mozzarella (from Italian mozzare 'to cut')
  • Muscat (through French from Italian moscato)
  • Orange (through French from Italian arancia, from Arabic naranj){{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=Orange|title = Orange | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}"orange n.1 and adj.1". Oxford English Dictionary online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-30.(subscription required)
  • Panini (Italian: panino, pl. panini)
  • Parmesan (through French from Italian parmigiano, meaning 'from the city of Parma')
  • Pasta
  • Pepperoni (from Italian peperone, pl. peperoni, meaning 'bell pepper')
  • Pesto (from Italian pestare 'to crush (with mortar and pestle)'){{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=pesto&searchmode=none|title = Pesto | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • Pistachio (Italian: pistacchio)
  • Pizza
  • Pizzeria
  • Polenta
  • Prosecco
  • Provolone
  • Radicchio
  • Ravioli
  • Risotto
  • Salami (Italian: salame, pl. salami)
  • Salumi (Italian pl. of salume 'salted meat')
  • Scampi (Italian: scampo, pl. scampi)
  • Semolina (Italian: semolino)
  • Sfogliatelle (Italian sfogliatella, pl. sfogliatelle; from sfoglia 'thin layer')
  • Sorbet (through French from Italian sorbetto, which in turn comes from Turkish, Persian and Arabic)
  • Spaghetti (Italian: spaghetto, pl. spaghetti)
  • Spumoni (Italian: spumone, pl. spumoni)
  • Sultana (in Italian is the female of 'sultan'; the grape is called sultanina)
  • Tagliatelle (from Italian tagliare 'to cut')
  • Tortellini (Italian tortellino, pl. tortellini)
  • Trattoria
  • Tutti frutti
  • Vermicelli
  • Vino
  • Zucchini (Italian: zucchina, pl. zucchine)

Clothes, accessories, furniture

  • Baldachin (from Italian baldacchino; Baldacco is an old Italian name for Baghdad)
  • Brocade (from Italian broccato through Spanish)
  • Costume (through French)
  • Desk (perhaps via Italian desco){{cite web | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/desk | title=Desk | Etymology of desk by etymonline }}
  • Jeans (after the city of Genoa through French Gênes)
  • Muslin (through French mousseline from Italian mussolina after the city of Mosul)
  • Organza (after the city of Urgenč)
  • Parasol (from Italian parasole through French)
  • Stiletto (in Italian it means 'little stylus' and refers to a type of thin, needle-pointed dagger, while the shoes are called tacchi a spillo, literally 'needle heels')
  • Umbrella (from Italian ombrello)
  • Valise (from Italian valigia through French)

Geography and geology

Some toponyms of Latin, Greek, Slavic or Arabic origin referring to non-Italian places entered English through Italian:

territories named after Italian explorers:

Commerce and finance

  • Bank (Italian: banco or banca) D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Bankrupt (Italian: bancarotta) D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Carat / karat (from Italian carato – from Arabic – through French) D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Career (from Old Provençal or Italian carriera via French, ultimately of Gaulish origin){{cite web | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/career | title=Career | Etymology of career by etymonline }}
  • Cartel (through French and German, from Italian cartello, meaning 'poster') D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Cash (from Italian cassa through French caisse and Provençal) D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Credit (from Italian credito through French) D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Del credere (Italian: star del credere)
  • Ducat (from Italian ducato, whose main meaning is 'duchy') D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Florin (through French from Italian fiorino) D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • LiraD. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Lombard (through French, from Italian lombardo meaning an inhabitant of Lombardy or also Northern Italy) D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Mercantile (through French) D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Management (from Italian mano for maneggiamento, meaning 'hand' for "handlement") D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2010
  • Ponzi scheme (from Charles Ponzi)
  • Post (from Italian posta through French posteLe Petit Robert)

Military and weaponry

  • Alert (from Italian à l'erte "on the watch" via French){{cite web | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/alert | title=Alert | Etymology of alert by etymonline }}
  • Arsenal (Italian arsenale, from Arabic)
  • Brigade (through French from Italian brigata)
  • Brigand (through French from Italian brigante)
  • Camouflage (from Italian camuffare "to disguise" via French){{cite web | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/camouflage | title=Camouflage | Etymology of camouflage by etymonline }}
  • Cannon (through French from Italian cannone)
  • Cavalier (from Italian cavaliere)
  • Cavalry (through French cavalerie from Italian cavalleria)
  • Catapult (through Latin catapulta from Italian catapulta)
  • Citadel (through French citadelle from Italian cittadella)
  • Colonel (through French from Italian colonnello)
  • Condottieri (Italian condottiero, pl. condottieri)
  • Infantry (through French infanterie from Italian infanteria, Modern Italian: fanteria)
  • Generalissimo
  • Salvo (Italian salva)
  • Scimitar (through Italian scimitarra from ancient Persian shamshir)
  • Stiletto (Italian stiletto 'little stylus', an engraving tool)
  • Stratagem (through French stratagème from Italian stratagemma, in its turn from Latin and Greek)
  • Venture (Italian ventura)

Crime and immorality

  • Assassination (from Italian assassinio. The first to use this Italian word was William Shakespeare in Macbeth. Shakespeare introduced a lot of Italian or Latin words into the English language. Assassin and assassination derive from the word hashshashin (Arabic: حشّاشين, ħashshāshīyīn, also hashishin, hashashiyyin, means Assassins), and shares its etymological roots with hashish. It referred to a group of Nizari Shia Persians who worked against various Arab and Persian targets.
  • Assassin (from Italian assassino)
  • Attack (from Florentine Italian attaccare via French){{cite web | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/attack | title=Attack | Etymology of attack by etymonline }}
  • Bandit (from Italian bandito)
  • Bordello
  • Casino (in Italian means 'hunting cottage' or 'brothel', and – figuratively – 'mess' or 'a lot')
  • Charlatan (through French from Italian ciarlatano)
  • Cosa nostra
  • Mafia and mafioso

Politics

Love and sex

  • Bimbo (from Italian bimbo 'child')
  • Casanova
  • Dildo (from Italian diletto, meaning 'pleasure')
  • Inamorata (from Italian innamorata, a female lover)
  • Ruffian (Italian: m. ruffiano, f. ruffiana)

Science and nature

words after Italian scientist names:

Religion, rituals, holidays

Games and sports

  • Arcade (from Italian arcata "arch of a bridge" via French){{cite web | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/arcade | title=Arcade | Etymology of arcade by etymonline }}
  • Carousel (from Italian carusiello via French. Etymologically related to "car".){{cite web | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/carousel | title=Carousel | Etymology of carousel by etymonline }}
  • Catenaccio (from catenaccio 'door-bolt', a defensive tactic in association football)"[http://worldsoccer.about.com/od/skillsandtactics/a/Catenaccio-tactic.htm Catenaccio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507021251/http://worldsoccer.about.com/od/skillsandtactics/a/Catenaccio-tactic.htm |date=2013-05-07 }}" at worldsoccer.com
  • Curva (a curved stadium grandstand)
  • Fianchetto (Italian fianchetto 'little flank', a chess tactic)
  • Lottery (Italian: lotteria)
  • Tarot (through French) and taroc (Italian tarocco)
  • Tifo (literally meaning 'typhus') and tifosi (from Italian tifosi 'sports fans', 'supporters')
  • Ultras (from Latin "ultra", fanatical fans)
  • Tombola
  • Zona mista (literally meaning 'mixed zone'; often referred to as "Gioco all'italiana" or "The Game in the Italian style")
  • Libero (from Italian libero 'free', a defensive specialist posit position in modern volleyball)

Others

  • Antenna
  • Armature (through Italian plural armature singular armatura, in English rebar, short for reinforcing bar)
  • Balloon (from Italian pallone "large ball" from a Germanic source){{cite web | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/balloon | title=Balloon | Etymology of balloon by etymonline }}
  • Berlinetta (from berlinetta 'little saloon', a two-seater sports car)Laban, Brian. The Ultimate History of Ferrari. Bath: Parragon, 2002. {{ISBN|978-0-7525-8873-5}}.
  • Bravado (through French bravade from Italian bravata)
  • Brave (through French from Italian bravo)
  • Capisce ('understand', third-person hortatory subjunctive form of capire, often misspelled kapish, or kapeesh)
  • Ciao (from ciao, an informal greeting or valediction, originally from Venetian sciavo '(your humble) servant'{{Cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=ciao|title=Ciao | Search Online Etymology Dictionary}}
  • de)
  • Cognoscente (from Italian conoscente, Italian: conoscitore)
  • Dilemma (Italian dilemma from Greek dilemmaton)
  • Dilettante (in Italian means 'amateur')
  • Ditto
  • Genoa after the city
  • Gonzo (in Italian means 'simpleton', 'diddled')
  • Humanist (through French from Italian umanista)
  • Inferno (in Italian means 'hell')
  • Latrine (through Italian plural latrine from Latin lavatrina)
  • Lido (in Italian means 'coast', usually 'sandy coast')
  • Lipizzan (Italian: lipizzano)
  • Major-domo (Italian: maggiordomo)
  • Mizzen (through French misaine from Italian mezzana)
  • Mustache (from Italian mostaccio via French and ultimately from Greek){{cite web | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/mustache | title=Mustache | Etymology of mustache by etymonline }}
  • Nostalgia (with the same meaning in Italian)
  • Paparazzi (Italian paparazzi, plural of paparazzo, the name of a character in the film La Dolce Vita)
  • Pococurante (from poco 'little' and curante 'caring')
  • Poltroon (through French poltron from Italian poltrona)
  • Pronto
  • Regatta (Italian: regata)
  • Vendetta (in Italian means 'vengeance')
  • Vista (in Italian means 'sight')
  • Viva

Sources

  • D. Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary

See also

Notes

{{Reflist|group=note}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{English words of foreign origin}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:English words of Italian origin}}

Category:Italian words and phrases

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