La frutta in italiano
(Fruit in Italian)
The Italian word frutta is not used in the plural form (it is similar to the collective noun fruit in English).
What is the difference between la frutta and il frutto?
La frutta usually refers to Fruit(s) in general. It is the generic term for all fruit. It a collective noun
- Me piace la frutta. (= I like fruit. – Here we are talking about fruit in general, non a specific piece of fruit)
Il frutto usually refers to a single (type of) fruit from a plant. We can say:
- La mela è un frutto. (The apple is a fruit)
List of fruit in Italian
Here is our list of fruit in Italian with the English translation next to it.
- l’albicocca = apricot
- l’ananas = pineapple
- l’anguria = watermelon (also il cocomero)
- l’arancia = orange
- l’avocado = avocado
- la banana = banana
- la ciliegia= cherry
- il fico = fig
- la fragola = strawberry
- il frutto della passione = passion fruit
- il kiwi = kiwi
- il lampone = raspberry
- la limetta = lime (also il lime)
- il limone = lemon
- il mandarino = mandarine
- il mango = mango
- la mela = apple
- la mela cotogna = quince
- la melagrana = pomegranate
- il melone = melon
- il mirtillo = blueberry
- il mirtillo rosso (americano) = cranberry
- la mora = blackberry
- la nespola = loquat
- la nettarina = nectarine (also la pesca noce – see below)
- la noce di cocco = coconut (also il cocco – see below)
- la papaia = papaya (you may also see the word written as papaya)
- la pera = pear
- la pesca = peach
- il pomodoro = tomato
- il pompelmo = grapefruit
- la prugna = plum (also la susina)
- il ribes nero = blackcurrant
- la susina = plum (also la prugna which is more common)
- l’uva = grape
Above is the singular form of each fruit. See the plural form of each one below.
TIP: One way to practice the names of fruit in Italian is to go to Italian supermarkets online and look through their online shopping catalogues. They often have a fruit and vegetable section so you can see a photo of different fruit with their name next to it. Notice the difference between singular and plural forms.
TIP: The next time you go make a shopping list, write the names of the fruit you want to buy in Italian.
The difference between la noce di cocco and il cocco
La noce di cocco is the entire coconut (as a whole) including the brown outer part.
Il cocco is the white piece of the fruit.
What is the difference between nettarina and pesca?
Pesca is peach and (pesca) nettarina is nectarine and they are both related.
The main difference is that una pesca has a slightly “furry” skin while una nettarina has a something skin without any “hair” on it. Also, una pesca is juicier while una nettarina is more crispy or crunchier.
Nettarina or Pesca Nettarina or Pesca Noce?
Nettarina has different names. It can be called just la nettarina and also la pesca nettarina (since it is related to le pesche – peaches). It is sometimes called la pesca noce.
Fruit in Italian – Summary Chart
Qual è il tuo frutto preferito?
What is your favorite fruit?
Singular and Plural forms of Fruit in Italian
Here is a list of the names of fruit in Italian in their singular form (singolare) and plural form (plurale) accompanied by the corresponding definite article.
| Singolare | Plurale | English |
|---|---|---|
| l’ananas | gli ananas | pineapple |
| l’anguria | le angurie | watermelon |
| l’albicocca | le albicocche | apricot |
| l’arancia | le arance | orange |
| l’avocado | gli avocado | avocado |
| la banana | le banane | banana |
| la ciliegia | le ciliegie | cherry |
| il fico | i fichi | fig |
| la fragola | le fragole | strawberry |
| il frutto della passione | i frutti della passione | passionfruit |
| il kiwi | i kiwi | kiwi (fruit) |
| il lampone | i lamponi | raspberry |
| la limetta | le limette | lime |
| il limone | i limoni | lemon |
| il mandarino | i mandarini | mandarine |
| il mango | i mango / i manghi | mango |
| la mela | le mele | apple |
| la mela cotogna | le mele cotogne | quince |
| la melagrana | le melagrane | pomegranate |
| il melone | i meloni | melon |
| il mirtillo | i mirtilli | blueberry |
| il mirtillo rosso | i mirtilli rossi | cranberry |
| la mora | le more | blackberry |
| la nespola | le nespole | loquat |
| la nettarina | le nettarine | nectarine |
| la noce di cocco | le noci di cocco | coconut |
| la papaia / la papaya | le papaie / le papaye | papaya |
| la pera | le pere | pear |
| la pesca | le pesche | peach |
| la pesca noce | le pesche noci | nectarine |
| il pomodoro | i pomodori | tomato |
| il pompelmo | i pompelmi | grapefruit |
| la prugna | le prugne | plum |
| il ribes nero | i ribes nero | blackcurrant |
| la susina | le susine | plum |
| l’uva | l’uva | grape |
What is the plural of uva in Italian?
Uva = grape – l’uva = the grape.
But how do you say grapes in Italian?
L’uva is used to talk about grapes in general so the plural of grapes is l’uva, yes the same as its singular form.
If you would like, you could say un grappolo d’uva = a bunch of grapes.
The word uve (or le uve) exists but it is normally refers to a grape variety used when making wine.
- Le uve merlot – Merlot grapes
- Le uve sauvignon blanc – Sauvignon blanc grapes
Fruit in Italian – Summary Chart
This is the original version of my Fruit in Italian Chart. The other one above is the new version that has more fruit and some additional names. I have kept the version below in case someone prefers this one.
