Pizza
/ˈpiːt.sə/noun
A savory Italian dish consisting of a flattened bread base topped with ingredients and baked.
Did you know?The word’s origin is debated: one leading theory connects Italian pizza with a Lombardic or Germanic term for a small portion or bite, rather than with an explicitly Italian culinary word.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bheid-
“To split, cleave, or break apart; a proposed deeper root behind the Germanic family associated with biting.”
Proto-Germanic
Germanic
*bitaną
“To bite; to cut or break with the teeth.”
Early Medieval Period
Lombardic
*bizzo
“A morsel or bite; a frequently proposed Germanic source for the Italian word.”
10th–13th Century
Italian dialects
piza / pizza
“A flat baked food or pie-like preparation; the exact development from earlier forms remains debated.”
16th–18th Century
Italian
pizza
“A regional flatbread or baked dish, especially associated with southern Italy.”
Modern English
English
pizza
“The internationally familiar baked dish of dough with toppings, especially tomato and cheese.”