Meaning & use
amarena
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A small dark sour cherry from Italy, often preserved in syrup and used in drinks and desserts.
Grammar: Countable when talking about individual cherries: one amarena, two amarene (the Italian plural).
Patterns
- amarena cherries
- a jar of amarene
The gelato was topped with whole amarene in thick syrup.
She ordered a soda with amarena cherry syrup stirred in.
A jar of amarene keeps for months in the fridge.
noununcountable
A sweet dark cherry syrup or flavoring made from these cherries, common in Italian sodas and desserts.
Grammar: Uncountable when it means the syrup or flavoring itself, not the fruit.
Patterns
- amarena syrup
- flavored with amarena
Add a spoonful of amarena to the sparkling water.
The cake is layered with cream and amarena.
Word forms
| Italian plural | amarene |
|---|
Common combinations
- amarena cherry
- Each amarena cherry is candied and glossy.
- amarena syrup
- The bartender used amarena syrup instead of sugar.
- a jar of amarene
- We brought back a jar of amarene from Bologna.
- amarena gelato
- Amarena gelato is a classic in Italy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- morello
- Morello is the general English name for a similar sour dark cherry, while amarena usually refers specifically to the Italian variety and its syrup.
- cherry
- Cherry is the general word; use amarena only when you mean this particular Italian type or flavoring.
Commonly confused: amarena or amaretto?
amarena vs amaretto
Amaretto is an almond-flavored Italian liqueur, not a cherry; the names look similar but the products are completely different.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'amarena' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Amarena' is a cherry or cherry syrup used as a flavoring, so pouring it into coffee fits. The other options treat it as a dog, a verb, or a heavy object, which it is not.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “amarena”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.