pici
/ˈpi.t͡ʃi/masculine, plural
pici is the Italian term for a type of pasta.
pici refers to a specific type of thick, hand-rolled pasta.
Meaning: type of pasta (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
This pasta is traditional to the Tuscany region, particularly the Siena area.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a masculine plural noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. The IPA is /ˈpi.tʃi/.
Did you know?
- While many Italian pastas use eggs, traditional pici are made from only flour and water, making them a 'poor man's' pasta.
- The name pici is believed to derive from the verb appiccare, which means 'to attach' or 'to stick to', referring to the way the dough is worked or stuck to the table.
- In the Tuscan countryside, making pici was historically a communal task for women, often performed while sitting together and chatting to pass the time.
Examples in context
- Vorrei assaggiare i pici al ragù, per favore.I would like to try the pici with meat sauce, please.
- Ho mangiato dei pici fantastici in un ristorante tradizionale!I had fantastic pici at a traditional restaurant!
- Questi pici sono fatti a mano.These pici are handmade.
- Vorrei ordinare un piatto di pici.I would like to order a plate of pici.
- Preferisci i pici con l'aglio?Do you prefer pici with garlic?
Example conversation
A small trattoria in Tuscany.
- GiuliaFrancesco, prendiamo i pici oggi?Francesco, shall we have pici today?
- FrancescoSì, sono molto buoni qui.Yes, they are very good here.
- GiuliaTi piacciono i pici al ragù?Do you like pici with meat sauce?
- FrancescoSì, sono i miei preferiti.Yes, they are my favorites.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pici” translations and entries pici, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pici, CC BY-SA 4.0.
