Italian Phrase
Evita cibi dall'odore forte.
Meaning
It is a piece of advice meaning ‘Avoid foods that have a strong smell.’ The sentence is a direct command, often used when someone’s diet might affect personal hygiene, social situations, or health.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving dietary advice, especially in contexts like cooking classes, health consultations, or casual conversation about social etiquette (e.g., “Don’t wear strong‑smelling foods to the office”).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Evitacibidall'odoreforte
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Evita’ is the imperative form of ‘evitare’, used to give a direct command or advice to ‘you’ (tu).
Noun‑adjective agreement
‘forte’ agrees in gender and number with ‘odore’ (masculine singular), not with ‘cibi’.
Preposition + article contraction
‘da + l’’ becomes ‘dall’’, used before a vowel‑initial noun (odore).
Plural noun without article
In commands, the direct object can appear without a definite article: ‘cibi’ instead of ‘i cibi’.
🗨In Conversation
Perché dovrei stare attento a cosa mangio?
Why should I be careful about what I eat?
Evita cibi dall'odore forte.
Avoid foods with a strong smell.
✕Common Mistakes
Evita cibo dall'odore forte.
‘cibo’ is singular; the sentence refers to foods in general, so the plural ‘cibi’ is required.
Evita cibi dal'odore forte.
The correct contraction is ‘dall’’, not ‘dal'’, because ‘odore’ starts with a vowel.
Evita i cibi dall'odore forte.
Adding the article ‘i’ is unnecessary in an imperative command and can sound overly formal.
↔Alternatives
Stai lontano da cibi dal forte odore.
Stay away from foods with a strong odor.
Non mangiare cibi dal profumo intenso.
Don’t eat foods with an intense scent.
Allontanati da cibi con odori intensi.
Keep away from foods with strong odors.
Cultural Tip
In many Italian regions, especially the south, strong‑smelling ingredients like garlic, onions, aged cheeses, and cured meats are culinary staples and celebrated. However, in professional or public settings (e.g., offices, public transport) Italians may politely advise each other to avoid such foods to prevent strong breath or body odor. Knowing when to use this phrase shows cultural sensitivity to both the love of flavor and the etiquette of discretion.