minestra

soup

noun meh-NEH-strah Rare

Origin: From Latin ministrare, to serve.

Usage Note

Minestra is a generic term for cooked soup or broth with vegetables or pasta. It differs from minestrone, which is thicker and chunkier. The common saying o mangi questa minestra o salti dalla finestra ('eat this soup or jump out the window') means 'take it or leave it.' The plural is minestre.

Examples

"La nonna prepara sempre una buona minestra."

Natural Translation

Grandma always makes a good soup.

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