Meaning
food, nourishment
- alimony, maintenance (in plural: alimenti)
In a sentence
La frutta è un alimento sano e leggero.
Fruit is a healthy, light food.
Questo alimento non va bene per il cane.
This food isn't good for the dog.
Dopo il divorzio, deve versare gli alimenti ogni mese.
After the divorce, he has to pay alimony every month.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| alimento | masculine · singular |
| alimenti | masculine · plural |
Usage notes
- Usually uncountable in general statements: Mangio alimenti sani. Use cibo more often in everyday speech; alimento sounds more technical or formal.
- In nutrition labels and health contexts, alimento/alimenti is common. For a meal or dish, prefer cibo, pasto, or pietanza.
- The legal sense appears mostly in plural: gli alimenti = alimony/maintenance payments. Do not confuse it with alimentazione, which means diet/nutrition.