Antipasto is the Italian word for hors d'œuvre, meaning before the meal. In Italian cuisine, this typically consists of cold foods such as cheeses and raw or marinated vegetables, as well as meats, especially cured meats such as prosciutto. The term in this case often includes salad, but not always. Antipasto translates literally as before the meal not before the pasta. The italian word for meal (any meal) is pasto. Pasta is a completely different word: any preparation made of flour, water and other ingredients which has been shaped and dried.