Meaning & use
carrozza
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A small deep-fried sandwich, usually filled with mozzarella and sometimes anchovies, typical of southern Italy.
Grammar: Countable: one carrozza, two carrozze (the Italian plural is sometimes used).
Patterns
- a carrozza
- carrozza with mozzarella
We shared a carrozza as a starter; the melted cheese was still hot.
The menu lists a carrozza filled with mozzarella and anchovy.
nouncountable
A horse-drawn carriage or, in modern Italian, a railway carriage.
Grammar: Used mainly in Italian contexts; the English equivalent is 'carriage' or 'coach'.
Patterns
- a carrozza
- the carrozza
In old Naples, a carrozza took visitors along the seafront.
The sign on the platform said 'carrozza 3', meaning coach 3.
Word forms
| plural | carrozze |
|---|
Common combinations
- carrozza with mozzarella
- The bar serves a carrozza with mozzarella and a squeeze of lemon.
- fried carrozza
- A fried carrozza is a popular street food in Naples.
- a carrozza ride
- They took a carrozza ride through the old town.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mozzarella in carrozza
- The full Italian name of the sandwich; 'carrozza' alone is a short form used mainly on menus.
- carriage
- The normal English word for a railway vehicle or horse-drawn vehicle; use it unless you are writing about Italy.
Commonly confused: carrozza or carousel?
carrozza vs carousel
A carousel is a merry-go-round or a rotating baggage belt; it sounds a little like carrozza but is unrelated.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'carrozza' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A carrozza is a fried sandwich, so ordering one as a starter fits. Options 2–3 describe vehicles in English contexts where 'carriage' or 'train' would be used, and option 4 is nonsense because a carrozza is a food item, not a small object.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “carrozza”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.