How to say “A SLICE OF” in Italian

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	Chees
TERRA	Land
TORTA	Cake

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	Chees
TORTA	Cake
CARTA	Paper
STOFFA	Fabric

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	Chees
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).