il riso

Definition & meaning

Riso has two main meanings:

1. Rice: the grain used as food, or the plant that produces it.
2. Laughter or a laugh: the act or sound of laughing. In this sense, it can also refer to a smile or an expression of amusement.

Grammar & Word origin

Riso is a masculine noun. Its plural is risi, though the plural is uncommon, especially when referring to rice.

The two meanings have different origins:

• “Rice” comes from Latin oryza, ultimately from Greek.
• “Laughter” comes from Latin risus.

Riso is also the masculine singular past participle of ridere ↗, “to laugh.”

Synonyms & antonyms

For “laughter”:

• risata ↗ — a laugh or burst of laughter; often suggests a more specific or noticeable instance of laughing.
• sorriso ↗ — a smile, usually quieter and less overt than laughter.
• pianto ↗ — crying, a possible contrast to laughter rather than a strict antonym.

There is no common direct synonym or antonym for riso in the sense of “rice.”

Common phrases & collocations

• riso integrale ↗ — brown rice.
• riso al vapore ↗ — steamed rice.
• scoppiare a ridere ↗ — to burst out laughing.
• morire dal ridere ↗ — to die laughing, figuratively.