What does panino mean?
A panino is a sandwich made with Italian-style bread, typically a small roll with a crisp crust, and fillings such as cured meats, cheese, vegetables, or pesto. The word was borrowed from Italian, where panino is the singular and panini is the regular plural. In English-speaking restaurants, panini are especially associated with toasted sandwiches containing mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, or meat, although any suitably substantial Italian-style sandwich may be called a panino. The plural panini is often used more commonly than the singular, especially on menus. Unlike the general word sandwich, panino carries a culinary association with Italian bread and fillings, giving it a more specific and internationally recognizable character. It is therefore useful when a speaker wants to identify a sandwich that resembles those found in Italian cafés and markets without claiming that its ingredients or preparation are necessarily authentically Italian.
nounA sandwich made from Italian-style bread, often a small, crusty roll, with fillings such as meat, cheese, or vegetables. In general English usage, the singular is panino and the plural is panini.
- An Italian-style sandwich made with crusty bread and various fillings.
"She ordered a grilled vegetable panino with roasted peppers and mozzarella."
"The café serves panini with fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato."
"He packed a turkey panino for lunch."
The standard plural in both Italian and English. In casual English restaurant usage, panini is also sometimes used as a singular.
"The bakery sells panini with ham, cheese, and artichoke."
One panino is a sandwich; panini are many.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does panino come from?
The word comes from Italian panino, the diminutive of pane, meaning bread, so its original sense is literally a small bread or bread-based food. Pane ultimately derives from Latin panis, the source of related words in several European languages. English cognates include pan, pantry, and pancake, while pane shares the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How panino is actually used
The singular panino and plural panini follow Italian usage, although panini is sometimes used informally for both singular and plural in English. The word usually denotes a sandwich resembling an Italian panini rather than every type of sandwich.
Easily confused with panino
A panino is one Italian-style sandwich, while panini is the standard plural form.