affogato

[ah-faw-gah-toh]

noun

1. an Italian dessert of vanilla gelato with hot espresso poured over the top.

Word History and Origins

Origin of affogato¹

First recorded in 1990–95; from Italian: literally, “drowned, smothered,” past participle of affogare, from Vulgar Latin affōcāre, Latin offōcāre “to choke, throttle,” equivalent to prefix ob- + -fōcāre, verbal derivative of faucēs “throat, gullet” (plural only), with Vulgar Latin substitution of af- (from ad- ) for Latin of- (from ob- ); af- ( def. ), of- ( def. ), fauces ( def. )

Example Sentences

Illy’s instant coffee is also exceptional in desserts, like chocolate cake, tiramisu, or affogato.

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I really love making an affogato with a dash of soy sauce.

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For those seeking a more elevated experience, Starbucks Reserve locations in select cities are embracing the season with offerings such as the Pumpkin Spice Whiskey Barrel-Aged Cold Brew, Pumpkin Spice Affogato and even a Pumpkin Spice Martini Flight, as noted by Delish.

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You can even go so far as to drink hot honey in an affogato or espresso martini at a Starbucks Reserve, the deluxe locations where the company introduces new flavors and products.

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Instead, I asked him to come over some evening for an affogato, a drink made by drowning vanilla gelato with hot espresso — an apt analogy for what I wanted to do to him.

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