What does antipasto mean?
An antipasto is the traditional Italian opening course of a meal, served before the pasta or main dish. The word comes from Italian and literally means 'before the food', combining the prefix 'anti-' (in the sense of 'before') with 'pasto', meaning meal. A typical antipasto is a generous arrangement of cold foods: cured meats such as prosciutto and salami, cheeses, olives, marinated vegetables, bruschetta, or anchovies, often presented on a shared platter or board for the table to graze on. In English usage, borrowed in the twentieth century as interest in Italian cuisine spread, it appears chiefly in menus, cookbooks, and food writing, where it connotes warmth, abundance, and convivial Italian hospitality. The Italian plural 'antipasti' is widely used when referring to an assortment of such appetizers, though 'antipastos' also occurs.
nounAn Italian appetizer course consisting of a selection of cold foods such as cured meats, cheeses, olives, and marinated vegetables, served before the main meal.
- A course of cold appetizers—cured meats, cheeses, olives, marinated vegetables—served at the start of an Italian-style meal.
- A single item served as part of such an appetizer selection.
"The meal opened with an antipasto of prosciutto, aged pecorino, and marinated artichokes."
"For Sunday lunch, Nonna always set out an antipasto of salami, olives, and roasted peppers."
"The restaurant's antipasto arrived on a wooden board, layered with prosciutto, figs, and shaved parmigiano."
English speakers may use either the anglicized plural 'antipastos' or the retained Italian plural 'antipasti'; the latter is more common in restaurants and food writing.
"The tasting menu featured three different antipasti before the first pasta course."
The word literally means 'before the meal' in Italian — so every time you order one, you're speaking Latin-derived Italian without realizing it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of antipasto
Antipasto entered English from Italian, likely in the early twentieth century as Italian cuisine gained international popularity. It derives from the Italian 'anti-' ('before') plus 'pasto' ('meal'), which itself descends from the Latin 'pastus', meaning food or fodder — the same root that gave English words like 'repast' and 'pasture'. Its literal sense, 'that which comes before the meal', has remained stable since its coinage in Italian.
How antipasto is actually used
Borrowed directly from Italian, the word retains its Italian plural 'antipasti' alongside the anglicized plural 'antipastos'. It carries a convivial, slightly upscale connotation in English, evoking Italian hospitality; it is common in food writing and restaurant menus but less so in everyday casual speech.
Easily confused with antipasto
'Antipasti' is simply the plural of the Italian loanword, referring to several such appetizers or assorted selections, while 'antipasto' is the singular form.