English Reference

Word

pita

Phoneticspi·ta

US/ˈpitə/

UK/pˈiːtɐ/

Definition

n. a type of flatbread that is round and has a pocket in the middle. You can fill it with meat, vegetables, or cheese and eat it as a sandwich.

n. a type of leavened flatbread originating from the Levant, characterized by a pocket formed by the dough during baking. It is typically used as a vehicle for various fillings.

Examples

“I bought a large pita and filled it with grilled chicken.”

“The restaurant serves a variety of pita breads, including plain, whole-wheat, and sesame-seed versions.”

“While the dough is traditionally baked in a tandoor, many home cooks use a standard oven to achieve the same airy texture and hollow center required for a successful pita.”

Examples

simple

“I bought a large pita and filled it with grilled chicken.”

contextual

“The restaurant serves a variety of pita breads, including plain, whole-wheat, and sesame-seed versions.”

complex

“While the dough is traditionally baked in a tandoor, many home cooks use a standard oven to achieve the same airy texture and hollow center required for a successful pita.”

Etymology

From Greek πίτα (píta, “pie”), more at pizza. Doublet of pide and pizza.

Borrowed from Spanish pita (“century plant”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/pita

English Reference