Sotto is an Italian word commonly used in recipes and culinary terminology. As an adverb, sotto translates to "under" or "below" in English, indicating a position or action that is beneath or lower than something else. In Italian cooking, it refers to a cooking technique wherein ingredients are simmered or cooked slowly on low heat. For instance, "sotto il fuoco" means "under the fire," implying that the food is being cooked at a low temperature.
Sotto can also be used as a preposition or as part of a compound word. As a preposition, it can mean "beneath," "below," or "underneath." It is commonly found in phrases like "sotto il sole" (under the sun) or "sotto la pioggia" (under the rain). In these contexts, it expresses a sense of physical location or sheltering.
Additionally, the word "sotto" is often combined with other words to form compound terms. For example, "sottovuoto" means "under vacuum," referring to a method of preserving food by removing air. Another term is "sottomarino," which translates to "submarine," relating to a type of sandwich served on a long roll.
Overall, the word "sotto" in Italian carries the fundamental meaning of being beneath, below, or under, typically denoting a spatial position, a state of being, or a cooking technique.
