cetriolo sottaceto
masculine
The Italian word for pickle is cetriolo sottaceto. If unsure, use cetriolo sottaceto. Wiktionary also lists cetriolino sottaceto.
Meaning: preserved cucumber (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | Note |
|---|---|
| cetriolo sottaceto | masculine |
| cetriolino sottaceto | masculine |
The term refers to a preserved cucumber. If you are looking for the industrial verb meaning to remove oxidation or high-temperature scale from metal using heated acid, use decapaggio.
What does it mean word for word?
The adjective sottaceto is a compound of sotto, meaning under and aceto, meaning vinegar, literally translating to 'under vinegar'.
Which one should you use?
Cetriolo sottaceto refers to a standard pickled cucumber, while cetriolino sottaceto is used specifically for small, snack-sized pickles or gherkins.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the southern region of Puglia, the term cucuzzeddi 'mbuttunati is used to refer to pickled cucumbers.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural form of the standard term, use cetrioli sottaceti.
Did you know?
- The word cetriolo is a linguistic doublet of citrullo, a word used in Italian to describe a simpleton or a 'dummy'.
- Italian culinary culture treats sottaceti more as a condiment or a palate cleanser than as a standalone snack like the American pickle.
- The word aceto is the root for the English word 'acetic acid', which is the primary component of vinegar.
Examples in context
- Ho preparato un'insalata agro-dolce con i cetriolini sott'aceto.I made a sweet and sour salad with pickled cucumbers.
- Mi piace aggiungere dei cetriolini sott'aceto ai miei panini.I love adding pickles to my sandwiches.
- Il cetriolo sottaceto è molto croccante.The pickle is very crunchy.
- Vuoi un cetriolo sottaceto nel tuo panino?Do you want a pickle in your sandwich?
Example conversation
Chiara and Francesco are making sandwiches in the kitchen.
- ChiaraFrancesco, hai preso il cetriolo sottaceto?Francesco, did you get the pickle?
- FrancescoSì, l'ho messo sul tavolo.Yes, I put it on the table.
- ChiaraPerfetto, aggiungiamolo ai panini.Perfect, let's add it to the sandwiches.
- FrancescoVa bene, lo metto subito.Okay, I'll put it in now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pickle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cetriolo, sottaceto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
