cece
/ˈt͡ʃe.t͡ʃe/masculine
The Italian word for chickpea is cece.
cece is a masculine noun used to refer to the chickpea seed.
Meaning: seed (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain parts of southern Italy, the term cicerchia is used to refer to a variety of wild chickpea.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of cece is ceci.
How do you pronounce it?
cece is pronounced /ˈtʃe.tʃe/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The Italian word cece descends from the Latin word cicer, which is also the root of the English word 'cicerone', meaning a guide who is knowledgeable about history and art.
- In Roman times, the ancestor of the word cece was associated with the 'cicer' used in divination, where the patterns of the legumes were read to predict the future.
- While ceci are common in savory dishes, some traditional Italian desserts in the south use chickpea flour to create a sweet, custard-like consistency.
Examples in context
- Il cece è piccolo.The chickpea is small.
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are cooking dinner together.
- MartinaMatteo, abbiamo ancora il cece in dispensa?Matteo, do we still have chickpea in the pantry?
- MatteoSì, c'è un barattolo di cece qui.Yes, there is a jar of chickpea here.
- MartinaPerfetto, facciamo un'insalata allora.Perfect, let's make a salad then.
- MatteoOttima idea, Martina!Great idea, Martina!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chickpea” translations and entries cece, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cece, CC BY-SA 4.0.
