pelare
/peˈla.re/
To peel in Italian is expressed by the verbs pelare or sbucciare.
Meaning: to remove skin (verb)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| pelare | /peˈla.re/ |
| sbucciare | /zbutˈt͡ʃa.re/ |
The meaning of these verbs is to remove skin. The noun for the skin of a fruit or vegetable is buccia.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb sbucciare literally means 'to un-skin', formed by the prefix 's-' (indicating reversal or removal) and buccia (skin/peel).
Which one should you use?
While both mean to peel, sbucciare is the more common and natural verb used for peeling fruits and vegetables (like oranges or potatoes). In contrast, pelare is often used when the action involves stripping a layer or is more technical, such as peeling a fruit with a specific tool or skinning something.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /peˈla.re/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- If an Italian describes someone as pelato, they aren't saying the person is being peeled, but that they are bald.
- If you are 'pelare' a person in a highly informal, colloquial setting, you might be told you are 'skinning' them of their money.
- The verb pelare shares an unexpected root with the word for 'hair', pelo.
Examples in context
- So pelare una mela.I can peel an apple.This sentence demonstrates the use of pelare.Tatoeba #426183 by Pharamp, translation #262241 by CK
- Devo sbucciare le mele.I have to peel the apples.This sentence demonstrates the use of sbucciare.Tatoeba #7675436 by Guybrush88, translation #1744804 by Amastan
- Aiutami a sbucciare le uova.Help me peel the eggs.Tatoeba #11760405 by Guybrush88, translation #10729546 by ddnktr
- Mi dai una mano a sbucciare queste patate?Can you help me peel these potatoes?
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are preparing dinner together.
- SofiaPuoi pelare le patate per me?Can you peel the potatoes for me?
- AlessandroCerto, dove sono i coltelli?Sure, where are the knives?
- SofiaSono nel cassetto in cucina.They are in the kitchen drawer.
- AlessandroVa bene, inizio a pelare subito.All right, I'll start peeling right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peel” translations and entries pelare, sbucciare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pelare, sbucciare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
