Skip to content

contorno

outline

noun kohn-TOR-noh Rare

Origin: From contornare (to surround/outline), from torno (lathe/round shape).

Also means

side dish

Usage Note

Contorno has two distinct everyday meanings: (1) the outline or contour of a shape or landscape, and (2) a side dish served alongside a main course in an Italian meal (e.g. contorno di verdure — vegetable side). In a restaurant, the menu section Contorni lists the vegetable sides. The word for 'surroundings/environs' is the separate dintorni.

Examples

"Come contorno ho ordinato patate arrosto."

Natural Translation

As a side dish I ordered roast potatoes.

Explore Italian by topic