patata
/paˈta.ta/feminine
The Italian word for potato is patata. Wiktionary also lists pomo di terra.
Meaning: plant tuber eaten as starchy vegetable (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| patata | /paˈta.ta/ | feminine |
| pomo di terra | /ˈpo.mo di ˈtɛr.ra/ (word by word) | masculine, rare |
patata refers to the plant tuber eaten as a starchy vegetable.
Which one should you use?
patata is the most commonly used standard, neutral term for potato in Italian. pomo di terra is a rare masculine alternative.
How does it change in a sentence?
patata is a feminine noun. Its plural form is patate.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /paˈta.ta/.
Did you know?
- In certain informal contexts, the word patata can be used as a slang term for female genitalia.
- The alternative term pomo di terra literally translates to 'apple of the earth', mirroring how many languages historically used 'apple' to describe new or exotic fruits and vegetables.
- The word patata is a linguistic traveler, having entered the Italian language via Spanish rather than directly from the original indigenous American languages.
Examples in context
- Io sono una patata.I am a potato.This sentence shows how to use patata to describe oneself.Tatoeba #11222499 by Guybrush88, translation #6590457 by Eccles17
- Questa è una patata.This is a potato.This sentence demonstrates how to use patata when identifying an object.Tatoeba #13454890 by Guybrush88, translation #12833017 by Lumi_alt
- Tom sembra una patata.Tom looks like a potato.This sentence illustrates how to use patata to describe someone's appearance.Tatoeba #11222510 by Guybrush88, translation #11069524 by shekitten
- Mi piacciono le patate fritteI like French fries
- I tuberi di patate vengono raccolti in autunnoPotato tubers are harvested in autumn
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina are in the kitchen preparing lunch.
- MatteoServe una patata per la zuppa?Do we need a potato for the soup?
- MartinaSì, prendi una patata grande.Yes, take a large potato.
- MatteoLa lavo subito.I'll wash it right away.
- MartinaGrazie, Matteo.Thanks, Matteo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “potato” translations and entries patata, pomo di terra, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (pomo, di, terra) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries di, patata, pomo, terra, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
