frittella
/fritˈtɛl.la/feminine
The Italian word for pancake is frittella. Wiktionary also lists crespolino and crespella.
Meaning: thin batter cake (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| frittella | /fritˈtɛl.la/ | feminine |
| crespolino | masculine | |
| crespella | /kresˈpɛl.la/ | feminine |
The English term Pancake is used in informal Italian vocabulary.
Which one should you use?
frittella usually refers to a fried dough or a fritter rather than a pan-cooked pancake. crespella is the term used for a thin, crepe-like pancake. The masculine form crespolino is also available.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of frittella is frittelle. The plural of crespella is crespelle.
How do you pronounce it?
/fritˈtɛl.la/. There are 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italy, crespelle are often served as a savory main course filled with spinach and ricotta and baked in a casserole, rather than as a sweet snack.
- The adjective crespo in crespella can also mean 'curly' or 'crinkled', referring to the textured surface of the batter when it hits the pan.
- While frittella can mean a pancake, it is more often used to describe a variety of deep-fried treats, such as the frittelle di Carnevale eaten during Carnival season.
Examples in context
- Mi piacerebbe mangiare dei pancake.I would like to eat some pancakes.
Example conversation
Chiara and Lorenzo are preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
- ChiaraLorenzo, vuoi un'altra frittella?Lorenzo, do you want another pancake?
- LorenzoSì, grazie, sono buonissime!Yes, thanks, they are delicious!
- ChiaraMetto un po' di miele sopra.I'll put some honey on top.
- LorenzoPerfetto, così è ancora meglio.Perfect, it's even better that way.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pancake” translations and entries frittella, crespella, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
