Bedeutung
Having eaten enough food.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'pancia piena' is the prerequisite for the 'abbiocco', the sacred Italian post-lunch nap. It is socially acceptable to admit you are full to avoid offending the cook by leaving food on the plate. In the South, hospitality is aggressive. A guest saying 'ho la pancia piena' is often ignored at least twice before the host accepts they are actually full. The phrase is often used in political cartoons to depict corrupt or lazy politicians who are 'satiated' by power and money. From Boccaccio's Decameron to modern novels, the contrast between 'pancia piena' and 'fame' is a recurring theme representing class struggle.
Polite Refusal
Combine 'ho la pancia piena' with a compliment like 'era tutto buonissimo' to be extra polite.
Gender Agreement
Never say 'pancia pieno'. It's a common mistake that sounds very 'foreign' to Italians.
Bedeutung
Having eaten enough food.
Polite Refusal
Combine 'ho la pancia piena' with a compliment like 'era tutto buonissimo' to be extra polite.
Gender Agreement
Never say 'pancia pieno'. It's a common mistake that sounds very 'foreign' to Italians.
The 'Abbiocco'
If you say you have a 'pancia piena', people will expect you to be a bit sleepy or slow for the next hour.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'avere' and the adjective 'pieno'.
Dopo la cena di Natale, noi ________ la pancia ________.
The subject is 'noi' (we), so the verb is 'abbiamo'. 'Pancia' is feminine singular, so the adjective is 'piena'.
Which is the most appropriate response to: 'Vuoi un altro po' di pasta?'
A: Vuoi un altro po' di pasta? B: ________
The correct idiom uses 'avere' and indicates you are full to decline more food.
Match the Italian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the pairs
These are the key terms for hunger and satiety.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
Cameriere: Desidera il dessert? Cliente: No, grazie. Il primo era enorme e ora ________.
The customer is declining dessert because they are full.
In which situation would you say 'È facile parlare con la pancia piena'?
Select the correct situation.
This is the figurative use of the phrase, implying complacency or privilege.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formal vs Informal
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenDopo la cena di Natale, noi ________ la pancia ________.
The subject is 'noi' (we), so the verb is 'abbiamo'. 'Pancia' is feminine singular, so the adjective is 'piena'.
A: Vuoi un altro po' di pasta? B: ________
The correct idiom uses 'avere' and indicates you are full to decline more food.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are the key terms for hunger and satiety.
Cameriere: Desidera il dessert? Cliente: No, grazie. Il primo era enorme e ora ________.
The customer is declining dessert because they are full.
Select the correct situation.
This is the figurative use of the phrase, implying complacency or privilege.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's neutral/informal. It's like 'belly' or 'tummy'. For a more formal word, use 'addome' or 'stomaco'.
Yes, it's very common to say a dog or cat has a 'pancia piena'.
'Pieno' is informal and literal (full). 'Sazio' is more formal and means 'satiated'.
Yes, it's a perfect synonym, just slightly more 'internal'.
Only if you are at a casual lunch together. In a formal meeting, it's better to say 'Ho mangiato a sufficienza'.
You can say 'Sono strapieno' or 'Ho fatto un'abbuffata'.
90% of the time, yes. Otherwise, it's the metaphorical 'complacency'.
No, for pregnancy we say 'essere incinta' or 'aspettare un bambino'. Using 'pancia piena' would be a joke.
The plural is 'avere le pance piene', but it's rarely used. We usually say 'abbiamo tutti la pancia piena'.
Yes! Patting your stomach with a flat hand while leaning back is the universal Italian sign for 'pancia piena'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
essere sazio
synonymTo be satiated
essere pieno come un uovo
specialized formTo be full as an egg
a pancia vuota
contrastOn an empty stomach
fare il pieno
similarTo fill up (usually a car)
mangiapane a tradimento
builds onA lazy person who eats without working
