spigola
/ˈspi.ɡo.la/feminine
The English phrase "sea bass" translates to Italian as spigola. Wiktionary also lists branzino.
Meaning: salt-water fish (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| spigola | /ˈspi.ɡo.la/ | feminine |
| branzino |
Both terms refer to the salt-water fish known as sea bass.
Which one should you use?
While both refer to sea bass, branzino is the term more commonly used on restaurant menus and in culinary contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
spigola is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈspi.ɡo.la/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- If you see spigola on a menu, you are looking at a word derived from spiga, which means 'ear of grain' or 'spike'.
- In Italian cuisine, branzino is frequently prepared al sale, meaning it is baked inside a thick crust of salt to lock in moisture.
- The word spigola is feminine, but the culinary branzino is masculine, which can confuse learners when choosing adjectives for the same fish.
Examples in context
- La spigola è molto fresca.The sea bass is very fresh.
- Vorrei una spigola al forno.I would like a baked sea bass.
- Hai comprato la spigola?Did you buy the sea bass?
Example conversation
At a local fish market.
- MartinaBuongiorno, quanto costa questa spigola?Good morning, how much does this sea bass cost?
- FrancescoCosta dieci euro al chilo.It costs ten euros per kilo.
- MartinaPrendo questa spigola, grazie.I'll take this sea bass, thank you.
- FrancescoPerfetto, ecco a lei.Perfect, here you go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sea bass” translations and entries spigola, branzino, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries branzino, spigola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
