al fresco
Al fresco (adverb) means Outdoors, in the open air, especially when eating or drinking. Example: “We ate al fresco on the terrace until the light went.”
How to Use Al fresco
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIt means outside, in the open air.
Slightly decorative; common in restaurant, travel and property writing.
It is not italicised in modern English writing, as it is now treated as a fully naturalised phrase.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
We ate _____ on the terrace until the light went.
Etymology
From Italian al fresco, literally 'in the fresh (air)'.
Related Words
Rhymes for al fresco
See all rhymes for al fresco →Frequently Asked Questions
Is it al fresco or alfresco?
Both spellings are correct and widely used. British dictionaries tend to prefer the single word 'alfresco', while American usage more often keeps the two words 'al fresco'; pick one and stay consistent within a piece of writing.
Does al fresco mean the same thing in Italian?
Not quite. In Italian, 'al fresco' most naturally means 'in the cool', and the phrase for eating outside is 'all'aperto'. English borrowed it with the fixed meaning of dining outdoors.
Can al fresco describe anything besides eating?
Yes, though dining dominates. You can hold an al fresco concert, meeting or class, and the word simply signals that it happens outside rather than under a roof.