affogato

American  

[ah-faw-gah-toh] / ˌɑ fɔˈgɑ toʊ /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of affogato

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

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

From Salon • Dec. 17, 2024

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.

From Seattle Times • May 19, 2024

Of course, I am not in any way a purist, and the scoop of vanilla you’ll find in most local coffee shops is a perfectly lovely American riff on the affogato.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 13, 2022

However you make your affogato, it's quite possibly the best 2-ingredient treat anybody ever thought of — strong and sweet, hot and cold, perfect every time.

From Salon • Dec. 19, 2021

I, too, turn to coffee on long stretches of boring road, but for me, one addition is essential: vanilla soft serve, for a concoction I like to call an affogato Americano.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2021