cena
English meaning: Dinner
Definition
The main meal of the day, eaten in the evening.
Example
“Stasera la cena è alle otto.”
In English: “Tonight dinner is at eight.”
Another example: “Stasera siamo invitati a cena dai vicini.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A noun for 'dinner', the evening meal and often the main social meal. 'Cena di lavoro', 'invitare a cena' are common collocations.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
The term 'cena' traces back to the Latin 'caena', meaning 'meal', specifically the evening meal. Its meaning has remained largely unchanged through the centuries.
Common Collocations
- cena di lavoro
- invitare a cena
- cena romantica
- ora di cena
- preparare la cena
Word Forms
f.sg. cena, pl. cene
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita mi ritrovai per una selva oscura”
“In the middle of the journey of our life, I came to myself in a dark forest.”
“Pace non trovo e non ho da far guerra”
“I find no peace, and yet I make no war — I fear and I hope, I burn and I am ice.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- Italiano
- Italian
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Romance
- Speakers
- 70M
