A guide to saying it correctly
How to Pronounce Gelato
Learn the correct way to pronounce gelato, the Italian word for ice cream, so you can order with confidence at your local shop.
gelato
juh-LAH-toh
/dʒəˈlɑːtoʊ/ · ge · la · to
Native US English · Kokoro neural TTS · 0:01
It is used as a singular noun to describe the specific dense, churned style of Italian ice cream.
Where the word comes from
The word comes from the Italian gelato, meaning frozen, which derives from the Latin gelatus, the past participle of gelare, meaning to freeze.
Common ways people get it wrong
- geh-LAY-toh English speakers often apply English vowel rules to the 'a', but in Italian, the 'a' is always an open 'ah' sound.
- GEL-ah-toh The stress should fall on the second syllable, not the first.
Frequently asked
Is gelato pronounced with a hard G?
No, it uses a soft G sound, similar to the 'j' in jump. A hard G would sound like the 'g' in goat, which is incorrect here.
Should I say gelato or gelatos?
Use gelato for both singular and plural in English. Adding an 's' is unnecessary and sounds unnatural to native Italian speakers.
Is the T sound at the end of gelato silent?
No, the T is fully pronounced. You should clearly articulate the 'toh' at the end of the word.
