placenta neapolitana
feminine
The English phrase "pizza" can be translated into Latin as placenta neapolitana. Wiktionary also lists pitta.
Meaning: Italian dish (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | Note |
|---|---|
| placenta neapolitana | feminine |
| pitta |
The term refers to the Italian dish. You can use placenta neapolitana or the synonym pitta, which refers to a type of flatbread or pizza-like dish. Another possible way to describe it is farinata rotunda, meaning "round flatbread".
What does it mean word for word?
In this context, placenta means a flatbread or cake rather than the biological organ.
How does it change in a sentence?
placenta neapolitana is a feminine noun.
Did you know?
- The Latin word placenta was used to describe various honey-sweetened cakes before it ever referred to a savory dish like pizza.
- The word placenta was borrowed from the Ancient Greek word plakoûnta, which literally means 'flat cake'.
- In Ancient Rome, a placenta was often made by layering sheets of dough with cheese and honey.
Examples in context
- Placenta Neapolitana mea ubi est?Where's my pizza?This sentence is useful for asking for your pizza using placenta neapolitana.Tatoeba #5090653 by alexmarcelo, translation #2254648 by CK
- Prandium placenta Neapolitana est.The lunch is pizza.This sentence is useful for stating that the lunch is pizza using placenta neapolitana.Tatoeba #11142618 by carlosalberto, translation #11142603 by carlosalberto
- Placenta Neapolitana caseum habet.The pizza has cheese.This sentence is useful for describing that the pizza has cheese using placenta neapolitana.Tatoeba #11158485 by carlosalberto, translation #11158479 by carlosalberto
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Marcus and Aurelia are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- MarcusVisne placentam neapolitanam edere?Do you want to eat pizza?
- AureliaIta, placenta neapolitana mihi placet.Yes, I like pizza.
- MarcusUbi possumus placentam neapolitanam emere?Where can we buy pizza?
- AureliaIn taberna prope domum nostram.In the shop near our house.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pizza” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries placenta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
Images of pizza have been found on restored frescoes in Pompeii dating back to at least 79 AD. My source is the documentary “Pompeii: The New Dig”
Thank you! That fresco is wonderful, though it shows a flatbread with toppings rather than pizza as we know it, since tomatoes reached Italy much later.