mozzarella
/mot.t͡saˈrɛl.la/feminine
The English phrase mozzarella is mozzarella in Italian.
mozzarella refers to a soft Italian cheese. A specific variety is mozzarella di bufala, which refers to mozzarella made from buffalo milk.
Meaning: soft Italian cheese (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The name comes from the Italian verb mozzare, meaning 'to cut off' or 'to detach', referring to the way the cheese is shaped by cutting pieces from the curd.
How does it change in a sentence?
mozzarella is a feminine noun. The plural form is mozzarelle.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /mot.tsaˈrɛl.la/.
Did you know?
- Despite its global fame, mozzarella was historically a peasant food made from the surplus milk of water buffaloes in the marshlands of southern Italy.
- In Italy, mozzarella di bufala is protected by a strict certification called DOP, meaning it must be produced in specific regions using traditional methods to be called by that name.
- The word is a diminutive, meaning it literally translates to 'a little thing cut off' due to its linguistic structure.
Examples in context
- Ho fatto una deliziosa pizza margherita con mozzarella di bufala oggi!I made a delicious margherita pizza with buffalo mozzarella today!
- Mi piace molto il sapore della mozzarella. È cremosa e saporita!I really like the taste of mozzarella. It's creamy and flavorful!
- La mozzarella è molto fresca.The mozzarella is very fresh.
- Vorrei una mozzarella di bufala.I would like a buffalo mozzarella.
- Hai comprato la mozzarella?Did you buy the mozzarella?
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Chiara are in the kitchen preparing a salad.
- LorenzoChiara, hai preso la mozzarella?Chiara, did you get the mozzarella?
- ChiaraSì, l'ho messa sul tavolo.Yes, I put it on the table.
- LorenzoOttimo, tagliamo subito la mozzarella.Great, let's cut the mozzarella immediately.
- ChiaraSì, è perfetta per l'insalata.Yes, it is perfect for the salad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mozzarella” translations and entries mozzarella, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mozzarella, CC BY-SA 4.0.
