pezzo
/ˈpɛt.t͡so/masculine
In Italian, the English phrase "chunk" is translated as pezzo or tocco.
Meaning: a part of something (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pezzo | /ˈpɛt.t͡so/ /ˈpet.t͡so/ |
masculine |
| tocco | /ˈtok.ko/ /ˈtɔk.ko/ |
masculine |
Both words refer to a part of something. To say "a chunk of [something]", you typically use the construction un pezzo di followed by the noun.
Which one should you use?
pezzo is the most common word for a piece or chunk of something and can be used for both small and large fragments.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of pezzo is pezzi, while the plural of tocco is tocchi. Both forms are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
pezzo is pronounced /ˈpɛt.tso/.
Did you know?
- The word tocco can also refer to a specific type of headwear, as it is borrowed from the French word toque.
- While pezzo means a 'chunk', if you accidentally use the feminine form pezza, you are no longer talking about a piece of food, but rather a 'patch' of cloth.
- While tocco refers to a 'chunk' or 'touch' of something, it also serves as the word for a 'stroke' of genius.
Examples in context
- Un pezzo di tortaA chunk of cake
- Un pezzo di paneA piece of bread
- Un pezzo di carneA chunk of meat
- Vorrei un pezzo di torta al cioccolato, per favore.I would like a chunk of chocolate cake, please.
- Desidero un pezzo di carne per fare un arrosto.I would like a chunk of meat to make a roast.
- Certamente! Ecco un bel pezzo di carne fresca.Certainly! Here is a nice chunk of fresh meat.
- Vuoi un pezzo di questo formaggio?Do you want a piece of this cheese?
- Ho comprato un pezzo di legno per il tavolo.I bought a piece of wood for the table.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara are sharing a snack in the kitchen.
- AlessandroTi resta un pezzo di torta?Do you have a piece of cake left?
- ChiaraSì, ne prendi un pezzo?Yes, do you want a piece?
- AlessandroSì grazie, sembra deliziosa.Yes thanks, it looks delicious.
- ChiaraPrendi pure tutto quello che vuoi.Take as much as you want.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chunk” translations and entries pezzo, tocco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pezzo, tocco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
