: restaurant
specifically : a usually small Italian restaurant

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The neighborhood/area Porto Ercole has several natural sights including a nearby lagoon, hiking trails and the old town, close to the hotel which has plenty of trattorias and shops. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026 This location is more residential, with quieter streets and approachable local trattorias, but offers several architecturally significant palaces and one of the city's oldest churches, the 11th-century San Zan Degola. Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 The cacio e pepe pasta transports me to my favorite trattoria in Rome and the pan-roasted Chilean sea bass tastes like it was just fished out of the sea. Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 4 July 2026 Other new standouts include Il Cannucciato, an al fresco restaurant that serves meats, fish, and seasonal vegetables grilled over an open fire; and La Frasca, a trattoria that specialized in Apulian dishes like handmade orecchiette, fresh burrata, and tiramisù. Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for trattoria

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of trattoria was in 1832

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Cite this Entry

“Trattoria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trattoria. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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