panini: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal
Quick answer
What does “panini” mean?
A sandwich made with Italian bread (typically a small loaf or ciabatta roll), sliced horizontally, filled with ingredients like cheese, meat, and vegetables, and grilled or pressed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sandwich made with Italian bread (typically a small loaf or ciabatta roll), sliced horizontally, filled with ingredients like cheese, meat, and vegetables, and grilled or pressed.
Often used generically to refer to any type of toasted or grilled sandwich, especially in casual food contexts, though purists insist it refers specifically to the Italian-style bread.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar, though the item may be more commonly found in cafes and sandwich shops in the UK, while in the US it's also a staple in coffee shops and casual dining. The American usage is slightly more likely to apply the term to any pressed sandwich.
Connotations
Conveys a slightly more upmarket or artisanal sandwich option compared to a standard sandwich or toastie. Associated with casual dining, cafes, and lunchtime meals.
Frequency
Medium frequency in both varieties, common in food-related contexts but not in general abstract discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “panini” in a Sentence
[Subject] ordered a [Adjective] panini.The cafe serves/specialises in panini.I'll have the panini with [Ingredient].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of food service, hospitality, and retail (e.g., 'The new menu features three panini options.').
Academic
Rare, except in culinary studies or historical/cultural discussions of food.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation about food, lunch choices, cafes, and cooking at home.
Technical
Used in professional culinary contexts to specify a type of bread and preparation method.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “panini”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “panini”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “panini”
- Using 'panini' as a plural only (e.g., 'one panino' is correct Italian but unusual in English). More common mistake: using it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'some panini').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In English, 'panini' is most commonly used as a singular noun (e.g., 'I'll have a panini'). The plural is usually 'paninis'. This is a departure from the original Italian, where 'panini' is the plural of 'panino'.
A panini is specifically a sandwich that is grilled or pressed, usually in a dedicated press, which compresses it and creates toasted lines on the bread. It is also traditionally made with Italian bread like ciabatta.
Yes, you can use a heavy frying pan or skillet and press the sandwich down with a spatula, or use a cast-iron grill pan. The key elements are heat and pressure to toast and compress the sandwich.
It is a loanword from Italian that has been fully adopted into English, with its own specific usage patterns (like being used as a singular). It appears in major English dictionaries and is widely understood.
A sandwich made with Italian bread (typically a small loaf or ciabatta roll), sliced horizontally, filled with ingredients like cheese, meat, and vegetables, and grilled or pressed.
Panini is usually informal in register.
Panini: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈniːni/, and in American English it is pronounced /pəˈniːni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PANINI' has two Ns and two Is, just like a sandwich has two slices of bread.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD IS COMFORT / A QUICK MEAL IS A PRESSED SANDWICH
Practice
Quiz
What is a common mistake regarding the word 'panini' in English?