I don’t know where we’d be without smartphones. Sure, they have their issues (like being a major distraction) but they’re great if you’re looking up information while out on the town. For me, they’re usually ideal when looking up what certain foods are. Especially if I happen to find myself in an Italian restaurant. I’m fond of most foods, especially pasta, but I have a hard time differentiating between dishes. But once I’ve made up my mind, another obstacle comes about — how do I order it?
I’d like to think that I have a pretty good grasp on language and communication. Sure, I’m no pro — but I feel like if you put letters in front of me, there’s an 85% chance that I’d be able to figure out pronunciation. The 15% of the time I can’t, it’s probably when I’m at an Italian restaurant that isn’t the Olive Garden.
Surely servers have probably heard it all. As they wrote down your order, they probably politely corrected you both for clarification and your own education. But if you’re like me, you may have forgotten those pronunciations the second your bread basket was refilled.
Here are a few of the tougher ones. Consider it to be your cheat sheet the next time you’re out.
Bruschetta
This is a dish you might prepare if you’re expecting guests — it’s fun and filling. But when you ask if everyone’s had a sampling of bruschetta, you may get a few raised eyebrows. It’s not “Broo-Sheh-Tah” — it’s actually “Broo-Skeh-Tah.” Don’t forget to add that K sound.
Cioppino
Fans of seafood don’t want to botch this one up. Even though it looks a lot like “Seo-Peeno,” the correct way to pronounce this dish is “Cho-Pee-Noh”. This fish stew isn’t straight from Italy — it’s actually Italian American, and was created in San Francisco.
Mascarpone
If you’re a fan of cream cheese, you’re likely familiar with mascarpone, a soft and mild cheese. But, how do you say it? This one’s a mouthful. Mas-Car-Poh-Nay is how it’s pronounced, with emphasis on the Poh.
Guanciale
This one’s straight from Italy. Since guanciale is a pork meat that comes from a pig’s jowls, guanciale got its name because “guancia” means cheek in Italian. It’s not “Guan-See-Ah-Lay” like it looks. When you’re ordering it at the deli counter, you’ll want to call it “Gwan-Chah-Lay”.
Minestrone
Okay, so this is one I might continue to pronounce wrong since I’ve never heard anyone say it correctly before. Good thing I’m mostly fond of cream soups. It’s not “Mih-Nih-Strone” like I thought. It’s actually “Mih-Nih-Stroh-Nee.”
Bolognese
No, it’s not bologna — both in pronunciation and food group. But to be fair, it did originate in Bologna, Italy. Bolognese is a meat-based sauce that works quite well with pasta. The Italian way to say it is reportedly “Bowl-Own-Yaes-Ay,” even though people have a lot of mixed opinions about that online.
Bresaola
This aged, salty beef should just be known as “yum.” But instead, it’s known as bresaola. Say it with me: Breh-Za-Oh-Lah.
Amatriciana
Amatriciana is another type of Italian sauce that sounds like a mouthful. You probably look at the word and think “Amah-Tree-See-Ana,” but you’d be wrong. The correct way to pronounce this Italian favorite is “Amah-Tree-Chah-Nah.”
Prosciutto
If you’re a fan of meat, you’ve probably run into prosciutto quite a bit. It’s actually one of the key meats on an Italian sub. It’s dry-cured ham that’s served up thin. Served uncooked, it’s called prosciutto crudo. The cooked version is better known as prosciutto cotto. In both cases, it’s pronounced “Pro-Shoot-Oh.”
Arancini
Arancini are deep-fried rice balls, often stuffed with good stuff like mozzarella. If you haven’t tried them before, they’re an amazing experience. But you won’t want to ask your waiter for the “Ahr-An-See-Nee.” These are actually pronounced “Are-An-Chee-Nee.”
Now you can go order Italian food fearlessly!
