gelato

American  

[juh-lah-toh] / dʒəˈlɑ toʊ /

noun

plural

gelati, gelatos

1. an Italian-style ice cream containing almost no air, and thereby denser and richer than other ice creams.

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gelato British  

/ dʒəˈlɑːtəʊ /

noun

1. Italian ice-cream

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Etymology

Origin of gelato

First recorded in 1930–35; from Italian: literally “frozen,” noun use of past participle of gelare “to freeze,” from Latin gelāre

Explanation

Gelato is a dense, rich Italian ice cream. In the summertime, gelato is an especially delicious frozen treat. In Italian, gelato means "to freeze." Just like ice cream, gelato is made by combining and freezing cream, milk, flavoring, and sugar. Gelato has less butterfat and less air mixed into it than ice cream, and it's served at a warmer temperature. These things give gelato a depth of flavor that ice cream doesn't quite have. Try ordering some traditional gelato flavors like nocciola (hazelnut) or castagna (chestnut) the next time you're at a gelateria!

Example Sentences

That company has a market value of around $8 billion and houses brands including Breyers, Ben & Jerry’s and Talenti gelato.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Just as you are seeking tips in these groups on the best gelato in Milan or public transportation from the airport in Amsterdam, someone is seeking tips on somewhere you live or have visited.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

Outside, under the warm April sunshine, groups of joyous African pilgrims in flashy head wraps ate gelato by the Bernini fountain, seagulls circling overhead.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2025

Or the parfaits served at Kamebishi Co., one of Japan’s oldest soy sauce brewers, where soy sauce gelato melts into something creamy and briny, like a tide pool made decadent.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2025

“And eat every flavor of gelato they make.”

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

Related Words

• frozen yogurt
• sherbet
• sorbet