Significado
Feeling hungry at the sight of food.
Contexto cultural
Italians often talk about food *while* eating food. Using 'acquolina' during a meal to describe the *next* course is very common. In Tuscany, you might hear people being more descriptive about the 'acquolina', linking it to specific local ingredients like 'tartufo' or 'bistecca'. On Italian Instagram, #acquolina is a popular hashtag for food bloggers and home cooks to showcase their best-looking dishes. If a guest says they have 'l'acquolina' while you are cooking, it is considered a great sign of success for the host.
Drop the 'in bocca'
In casual conversation, Italians often just say 'Ho l'acquolina!' Everyone knows where the water is, so you don't always need to say 'in bocca'.
Compliment the Chef
If you are at an Italian home, saying 'Mi viene l'acquolina solo a sentire l'odore' is the best way to make the host happy before the meal even starts.
Significado
Feeling hungry at the sight of food.
Drop the 'in bocca'
In casual conversation, Italians often just say 'Ho l'acquolina!' Everyone knows where the water is, so you don't always need to say 'in bocca'.
Compliment the Chef
If you are at an Italian home, saying 'Mi viene l'acquolina solo a sentire l'odore' is the best way to make the host happy before the meal even starts.
Don't say 'Acqua in bocca'
Remember: 'Acqua in bocca' means 'Keep it a secret'. If you say this at a restaurant, the waiter will think you want him to be quiet, not that you're hungry!
Teste-se
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'avere' or 'venire'.
Solo a guardare quel dolce, mi ______ l'acquolina in bocca.
In the construction 'mi viene...', the subject is 'l'acquolina' (singular), so we use the third person singular of 'venire'.
Which sentence is correct?
How do you say 'My mouth is watering'?
The standard idiom uses 'avere' + 'l'acquolina' + 'in bocca'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
When would you say 'Mi fai venire l'acquolina'?
The phrase is used when something (like a description) triggers hunger/desire for food.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Guarda che bella questa pizza!' B: 'Mamma mia, ______!'
This is the most natural response to seeing a delicious pizza.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosSolo a guardare quel dolce, mi ______ l'acquolina in bocca.
In the construction 'mi viene...', the subject is 'l'acquolina' (singular), so we use the third person singular of 'venire'.
How do you say 'My mouth is watering'?
The standard idiom uses 'avere' + 'l'acquolina' + 'in bocca'.
When would you say 'Mi fai venire l'acquolina'?
The phrase is used when something (like a description) triggers hunger/desire for food.
A: 'Guarda che bella questa pizza!' B: 'Mamma mia, ______!'
This is the most natural response to seeing a delicious pizza.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasIt is a real, standard Italian word found in all dictionaries, though it is almost exclusively used in this idiom.
Usually no. It's for food. For a drink, you'd just say 'Ho una voglia matta di una birra fredda'.
'Ho l'acquolina' describes your current state. 'Mi viene l'acquolina' describes the moment the sensation starts.
Yes, it's considered enthusiastic and appreciative rather than rude.
It's better not to. It can sound a bit creepy or overly objectifying in Italian.
Pronounce it like a strong, held 'k' sound. Like 'book-keeper' in English.
No, 'acquolina' is always singular in this idiom.
Yes, you can add 'molta' or 'un'acquolina pazzesca' to emphasize the feeling.
Absolutely. 'Questo profumo mi fa venire l'acquolina' is a very common sentence.
Yes, it is a standard national idiom used from North to South.
Frases relacionadas
leccarsi i baffi
similarTo lick one's whiskers (to find something delicious).
avere un languorino
builds onTo have a little hunger/craving.
mangiare con gli occhi
similarTo eat with one's eyes.
fare gola
similarTo be tempting.
