Italian Phrase
Circa 8-10 minuti per lato.
Meaning
The sentence tells you to cook something for roughly eight to ten minutes on each side. It’s a typical instruction for grilling, pan‑frying, or searing foods such as steaks, chicken breasts, or vegetables.
When to use
Use this phrase in a kitchen setting when giving or receiving cooking times. It’s common in recipes, cooking videos, and casual conversation between home cooks or chefs.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Circa8-10minutiperlato.
Circa
An adverb meaning 'approximately' or 'about', used before numbers to indicate an estimate.
minuti
Plural noun for 'minute'. In Italian, nouns agree in number with the quantity they describe.
per
Preposition meaning 'for' or 'per', used here to indicate 'per side'.
lato
Masculine singular noun meaning 'side'. When paired with 'per', it forms the expression 'per lato' (per side).
🗨In Conversation
Quanto tempo devo cuocere la bistecca?
How long should I cook the steak?
Circa 8-10 minuti per lato.
About 8‑10 minutes per side.
✕Common Mistakes
Circa 8-10 minuti per i lati.
‘Per i lati’ would mean ‘for the sides’ (plural) and sounds unnatural in this context; the correct singular form is ‘per lato’.
Circa 8‑10 minuti per lato.
When speaking, Italians usually say the numbers as words, not digits; saying ‘otto‑dieci minuti’ sounds more natural.
↔Alternatives
All'incirca 8‑10 minuti per lato.
Approximately 8‑10 minutes per side.
Circa otto‑dieci minuti per lato.
About eight‑ten minutes per side.
Circa otto o dieci minuti per lato.
About eight or ten minutes per side.
Cultural Tip
Italian cooking often relies on intuition and visual cues, so timing is given as a range rather than an exact number. The thickness of the food, the heat of the pan, and personal preference for doneness can all affect the actual time needed. When in doubt, use a meat thermometer or the ‘finger test’ for doneness.