Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| marmellata | /mar.melˈla.ta/ | feminine |
| confettura | /kon.fetˈtu.ra/ | feminine |
The term refers to a sweet mixture of fruit boiled with sugar.
Which one should you use?
While marmellata is the standard term, you may see confettura used on commercial labels. This often denotes a fruit spread that may have a more uniform, processed texture compared to traditional marmellata.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both forms are feminine nouns. You can use La marmellata to mean 'the jam' or Una marmellata to mean 'a jam'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of marmellata is /mar.melˈla.ta/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may encounter a false friend with the word 'marmalade'. While English speakers might assume marmellata only refers to citrus marmalade, in Italian, it is the general term for most fruit jams.
Did you know?
- The word confettura shares a root with the Italian word confetti, which refers to sugar-coated almonds given at weddings rather than small paper scraps.
- European Union regulations strictly distinguish confettura from marmellata based on the percentage of fruit and the method of preparation used in industrial production.
- In some regions of Italy, a thick, slow-cooked fruit preserve known as cotognata is treated as a specialty distinct from standard marmellata.
Examples in context
- Voglio pane e marmellata.I want bread and jam.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire for bread and marmellata.Tatoeba #11082346 by Guybrush88, translation #2744953 by sharptoothed
- Sta facendo della marmellata.He's making jam.This sentence is useful for describing the action of making marmellata.Tatoeba #8486949 by Guybrush88, translation #8480261 by CH
- Che tipo di marmellata è questa?What kind of jam is this?This sentence is useful for asking about the type of marmellata.Tatoeba #13455120 by Guybrush88, translation #12048559 by CK
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are having breakfast in the kitchen.
- ChiaraFrancesco, preferisci il miele o la marmellata?Francesco, do you prefer honey or jam?
- FrancescoPreferisco la marmellata di fragole, grazie.I prefer strawberry jam, thanks.
- ChiaraNe è rimasta pochissima nel barattolo.There is very little left in the jar.
- FrancescoNon importa, ne prendo solo un po'.It doesn't matter, I'll just take a little.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “jam” translations and entries marmellata, confettura, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
