How to translate A SLICE OF

David asks: “How do I say A SLICE OF in Italian?“.

We can translate “A SLICE OF” with three words:

  • FETTA
  • PEZZO
  • TRANCIO

The most common word is FETTA

FETTA is a feminine word, this means it comes in these variations:

LA FETTA (the slice)
LE FETTE (the slices)

The standard structure for this wor is:
UNA FETTA DI (a slice of) ___________ (the item you want).

or, if you want more than just one slice (I'm not judging!):
DUE, TRE, QUATTRO… FETTE DI ___________ (the item you want).

▷ SOME EXAMPLES

VORREI UNA FETTA DI PANE
I would like a slice of bread.

VORREI DUE FETTE DI PANE
I would like two slices of bread.

FETTA works in most cases where you can expect a thin, usually vertical, “slice” of something. For example:

Pane – Bread

Pizza – Pizza

Prosciutto – Prosciutto

Formaggio – Cheese

Terra – Land

Torta – Cake

How to say “A SLICE OF” in Italian -

Sometimes though we use the word PEZZO

PEZZO literally means “PIECE”, not “SLICE”.
PEZZO is a masculine word, this means it comes in these variations:

IL PEZZO (the slice)
I PEZZI (the slices)

The standard structure for this wor is:
UN PEZZO DI (a slice of) ___________ (the item you want).

or, if you want more than just one slice:
DUE, TRE, QUATTRO… PEZZI DI ___________ (the item you want).

▷ SOME EXAMPLES

VORREI UN PEZZO DI PIZZA
I would like a slice of pizza.

VORREI DUE PEZZI DI PIZZA
I would like two slices of pizza.

PEZZO works in most cases where you can expect a “piece” of something, that is a “portion” of it. PEZZO does not usually identify a neat slice, but rather something that has been ripped off something. For example:

Pane – Bread

Pizza – Pizza

*Prosciutto – Prosciutto

*Formaggio – Cheese

Torta – Cake

Carta – Paper

Stoffa – Fabric

How to say “A SLICE OF” in Italian -

While PEZZO works just fine for PIZZA, PANE, and TORTA, you need to understand that for other things, like PROSCIUTTO or FORMAGGIO the implication is that you will be getting “a piece” of someone else's PROSCIUTTO or FORMAGGIO.

It's like saying “a chunk”. It works well for things that don't need to be necessarily sliced, like bread and pizza, it's a little more specific with things that must be sliced.

Another word we use is TRANCIO.

TRANCIO literally means “WEDGE”, not “SLICE”.
TRANCIO is a masculine word, this means it comes in these variations:

IL TRANCIO (the slice)
I TRANCI (the slices)

The standard structure for this wor is:
UN TRANCIO DI (a slice of) ___________ (the item you want).

or, if you want more than just one slice:
DUE, TRE, QUATTRO… TRANCI DI ___________ (the item you want).

▷ SOME EXAMPLES

VORREI UN TRANCIO DI TORTA
I would like a slice of cake.

VORREI DUE PEZZI DI TORTA
I would like two slices of cake.

TRANCIO works in most cases where you can expect a “wedge” of something, that is a “thick, triangular” piece of it. For example:

Pizza – Pizza

Formaggio – Cheese

Torta – Cake

As you can see, the examples, all can be cut in “wedges”.
Some cheese cannot be “sliced”, for example, or are simply usually served in bigger chunks. Think of parmigiano, or brie.
TRANCIO just wouldn't work for other things where a wedge is not possible, or usual (pane, carta, stoffa, etc).