Italian · Food & Drink
"Pepper (spice)" in Italian: pepe
il pepe
Pepper as the spice in Italian is il pepe (PEH-peh). Black pepper is pepe nero. The vegetable pepper / bell pepper is il peperone—different word.
At the table
Passami il pepe, per favore.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce pepe
Say it
PEH-peh
/ˈpe.pe/
Pepe is PEH-peh. Both syllables clear; stress PEH.
"Pepper (spice)" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il pepe | pepper (spice) Table and kitchen. | Table and kitchen. |
| pepe nero | black pepper Most common type. | Most common type. |
| pepe macinato | ground pepper Cooking. | Cooking. |
| sale e pepe | salt and pepper Set pair. | Set pair. |
How to use pepe in real life
- 1At the table
Passami il pepe, per favore.
Pass me the pepper, please.
Il pepe.
- 2Cooking
Aggiungi un po' di pepe nero alla salsa.
Add a bit of black pepper to the sauce.
Pepe nero.
- 3Taste
C'è troppo pepe in questa zuppa.
There's too much pepper in this soup.
Troppo pepe.
Mistakes English speakers make with pepe
Incorrect: Il peperone on the table for black pepper.
Correct: Il pepe.
Peperone is the vegetable; pepe is the spice.
Incorrect: La pepe.
Correct: Il pepe.
Pepe is masculine.
Good to know
Italian tables pair sale e pepe. Peperoncino is chili; peperone is bell pepper. Asking for pepe never brings you a vegetable.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Seasoning pasta
ChatPal
Vuoi del pepe sulla pasta?
Do you want some pepper on the pasta?
You
Sì. Solo un po' di pepe nero.
Yes. Just a little black pepper.
ChatPal
Il macinino del pepe è sul tavolo.
The pepper mill is on the table.
You
Grazie. Non metto altro pepe dopo.
Thanks. I won't add more pepper after.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Pepper (spice)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Pepper (spice)" in Italian
Pepe vs peperone?
Pepe is the spice; peperone is the vegetable.
Chili pepper?
Peperoncino.
Gender?
Masculine: il pepe.
Salt and pepper?
Sale e pepe.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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