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finocchio

fennel

noun fee-NOH-kyoh Rare
Food & Drink Vegetables

Origin: From Latin feniculum, diminutive of fenum (hay), referring to the plant's feathery foliage.

Also means

gay man (offensive slang)

Usage Note

Finocchio primarily means the fennel plant or vegetable (il finocchio selvatico = wild fennel). It is also a highly offensive slang term for a gay man in Italian — learners should be aware of this double meaning to avoid embarrassment. In a restaurant or market context finocchio is unambiguously the vegetable. The plural is finocchi.

Examples

"Aggiungi del finocchio alla insalata."

Natural Translation

Add some fennel to the salad.

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