A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "What's in this dish" in Italian
Ask what's in a dish at an Italian restaurant. Perfect for curious eaters and dietary needs.
Cos'è questo piatto?
koh-ZEH KWES-toh PYAT-tohneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
Use this when you're presented with a dish you don't recognize or want to know the ingredients of. It's a polite way to get more information from your waiter.
Alternatives
- Cosa c'è in questo piatto?Slightly more literal, also very common.
- Di cosa si tratta?More general, asking 'what is this?' about anything, including a dish.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'cos'è'
Make sure to stress the 'EH' sound at the end of 'cos'è' and don't pronounce the final 'è' like an English 'ay'.
Confusing 'piatto' with 'pazzo'
'Piatto' means dish or plate, while 'pazzo' means crazy. They sound similar but have very different meanings!
A small cultural note
Italians are often proud of their regional specialties, so asking about a dish can lead to a delightful conversation about its origins or preparation.
Frequently asked
how to ask what is in a dish in italian
You can say 'Cos'è questo piatto?' to ask what a specific dish is. This is a polite and common way to inquire.
what is the italian for what's this food
To ask 'What's this food?', you can use 'Cos'è questo piatto?' or the more general 'Cosa c'è in questo piatto?'. Both are easily understood.
asking waiter about ingredients italian
To ask about ingredients, you can say 'Cos'è questo piatto?' or 'Cosa c'è in questo piatto?'. If you have allergies, you might follow up with 'È senza [ingredient]?' (Is it without [ingredient]?).
