Italian Phrase
Cosa c'è per pranzo oggi?
Meaning
Literally “What is there for lunch today?” It’s the go‑to question when you want to know the day’s lunch menu, whether at home, school, or the office.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual or semi‑formal settings when you’re curious about the midday meal. It works well with family members, classmates, coworkers, or a restaurant host who offers a daily special.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cosac'èperpranzooggi?
Cosa
Interrogative pronoun meaning “what”. It can appear at the beginning of a question.
c'è
Contraction of “ci è” (there is/are). Used to ask about the existence of something.
per
Preposition meaning “for”. Here it links the question to the meal.
pranzo
Noun meaning “lunch”. In Italian the main midday meal.
oggi
Adverb meaning “today”. Placed after the noun for natural word order.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa c'è per pranzo oggi?
What’s for lunch today?
Oggi abbiamo pasta al pomodoro e insalata.
Today we have tomato pasta and salad.
✕Common Mistakes
cosa è per pranzo oggi
The verb “essere” must be contracted to “c’è” (ci è). The correct order is “Cosa c’è…”.
cosa c'è per il pranzo oggi
Adding the article “il” is unnecessary because “pranzo” already functions as a generic meal noun in this construction.
↔Alternatives
Che cosa c'è per pranzo oggi?
What’s for lunch today?
Che cosa mangiamo a pranzo?
What are we eating for lunch?
Cosa mangiamo oggi a pranzo?
What are we eating for lunch today?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, lunch (pranzo) is traditionally the biggest meal of the day and is often enjoyed between 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm. Depending on the region you might hear dishes like risotto in the north, pasta al pomodoro in the centre, or seafood in the south. When asking the question, a friendly tone and a smile are appreciated – Italians love to talk about food!