trattoria

noun

trat·​to·​ria ˌträ-tə-ˈrē-ə 

plural trattorias or trattorie ˌträ-tə-ˈrē-ˌā 

: restaurant

specifically : a usually small Italian restaurant

Did you know?

In Italian, "trattore" is the word for an innkeeper or restaurant owner. That word derives from the Old French verb traitier, which means "to treat" and is related to the Latin tractare, meaning "to drag about, handle, or deal with." "Trattoria," which first appeared in English in 1832, is one of several words that have entered our language to refer to a kind of specialized eatery - in this case, one that specializes in Italian cuisine. Others that have come later include "bistro" (from French, 1921), "brasserie" (from French, 1864), and "taqueria" (from Mexican Spanish, 1982).

Examples of trattoria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Best Restaurants Mimì alla Ferrovia Opened in 1943, this family-run trattoria near Napoli Centrale train station has drawn celebrities including filmmaker Federico Fellini and the actor known as Totò. —Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026

Florentines stop in for drinks in the Atrium Bar or dinner at Il Palagio, and the October 2024 opening of ‘contemporary seafood trattoria’ Onde, with its live DJ sets, looks likely to boost their presence. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026

Tigani said his lease includes the option to expand the space to add a trattoria, but that’s not on the menu for 2026. —Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2026

This trattoria has the best cotoletta in town, with or without bone. —Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from trattore restaurateur, from French traiteur, from traiter to treat, from Old French traitier — more at treat entry 1

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for trattoria

• chorea
• correa
• doria
• gloria
• scoria
• shorea
• thoria
• aporia
• centaurea
• dysphoria
• euphoria
• septoria

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!