Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pedazo | /peˈdaθo/ /peˈdaso/ |
masculine |
| trozo | /ˈtɾoθo/ /ˈtɾoso/ |
masculine |
| socotroco | /sokotɾoko/ (from spelling rules) | colloquial, masculine |
These words are used to describe a part of something. If you want to refer to a small or tiny chunk in an informal way, you can use pedacito or trocito. For a formal context where you want to emphasize a smaller or broken-off part, use fragmento.
Which one should you use?
While trozo and pedazo are often interchangeable, trozo is more frequently used for physical pieces of a material or food. In contrast, pedazo can also be used metaphorically for abstract things, such as saying "a piece of my heart".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term fragmento is formal. cacho is colloquial. For a humorous or very informal tone, you can use socotroco.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word trocito to mean a small chunk is commonly used in Spain and some Latin American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of pedazo is pedazos, and the plural of trozo is trozos.
How do you pronounce it?
/peˈdaθo/
Did you know?
- The word pedazo is used in the common idiom pedazo de… to emphasize that something is huge, like calling a big house a pedazo de casa.
- In Spain, un pedazo de pan is not just a 'chunk of bread' but a metaphor for a person who is exceptionally kind and good-hearted.
- The word pedazo actually traces its roots back to an Ancient Greek word, pittákion, which originally referred to a small piece of bread or a biscuit.
Examples in context
- George intentó disfrutar del filete pero un trozo de cartílago le estropeó el último bocado.George tried to enjoy the steak, but a chunk of gristle ruined the last bite.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use trozo when referring to food.Tatoeba #13614984 by Seael, translation #13604620 by rul
- Tenemos un trozo de pastel de chocolate para ti.We have a chunk of chocolate cake for you.
- Por favor, corte un trozo de queso para el aperitivo.Please cut a chunk of cheese for the appetizer.
- Te regalé un pedazo de mi corazón.I gave you a chunk of my heart.
- El arqueólogo encontró un fragmento de cerámica antigua.The archaeologist found a chunk of ancient pottery.
- Me quedé con un fragmento de la carta que escribiste.I kept a chunk of the letter you wrote.
- Voy a comerme otro pedacito de pizza.I'm going to eat another tiny piece of pizza.
- ¿Me das un trocito de esa barra de chocolate?Can you give me a small chunk of that chocolate bar?
- Voy a probar un trocito de la tortilla antes de servirla.I'm going to taste a small chunk of the omelette before serving it.
- Dame un cacho de pan para acompañar la sopa.Give me a chunk of bread to accompany the soup.
- En la pelea, le sacaron un cacho de pelo.In the fight, they pulled out a chunk of his hair.
- Dame un pedazo de pan, por favor.Give me a piece of bread, please.
- Ese pedazo de madera es muy pesado.That chunk of wood is very heavy.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are sharing a cake at home.
- Lucía¿Quieres un pedazo de este pastel?Do you want a piece of this cake?
- AlejandroSí, gracias, Lucía.Yes, thank you, Lucía.
- LucíaEs un pedazo muy grande para ti.It is a very large piece for you.
- AlejandroNo te preocupes, tengo mucha hambre.Don't worry, I am very hungry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chunk” translations and entries pedazo, trozo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pedazo, trozo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
