peperone
/pe.peˈro.ne/
The Italian word for capsicum (bell pepper) is peperone.
If you are referring specifically to a spicy variety of capsicum, the word peperoncino is used.
Meaning: bell pepper (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of peperone is peperoni, which refers to bell peppers.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the third syllable: /pe.peˈro.ne/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the Italian peperoni (which means bell peppers) with the American 'pepperoni' (a spicy salami). In Italian, the spicy salami is called salame piccante.
Did you know?
- In Italy, peperoncino is often seen as a symbol of good luck and is sometimes hung in bunches near the entrance of homes to ward off the 'evil eye'.
- While 'peperone' describes the large bell pepper, the suffix '-cino' in peperoncino creates a diminutive that implies smallness and intense heat.
- The Italian word peperone shares a common ancestor with the English word 'pepper', both tracing back to the Latin 'piper'.
Examples in context
- Per una salsa piccante, aggiungete dei peperoni tagliati finemente.For a spicy sauce, add finely chopped capsicums.
- In questa ricetta, aggiungiamo un peperoncino piccante per dare un sapore deciso.In this recipe, we add a spicy capsicum to give it a bold flavor.
- Ho comprato un peperone rosso.I bought a red bell pepper.
- Vuoi un peperone dolce?Do you want a sweet bell pepper?
- Taglia il peperone per l'insalata.Cut the bell pepper for the salad.
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are preparing lunch in the kitchen.
- LorenzoGiulia, hai un peperone in frigo?Giulia, do you have a bell pepper in the fridge?
- GiuliaSì, ne ho uno giallo.Yes, I have a yellow one.
- LorenzoPerfetto, lo userò per la pasta.Perfect, I will use it for the pasta.
- GiuliaOttima idea, Lorenzo!Great idea, Lorenzo!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry peperone, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries peperone, CC BY-SA 4.0.
