mozzarella

noun mots-tsah-REL-lah Rare

Origin: From Neapolitan mozzare (to cut off), referring to the cutting method used in its production.

Usage Note

Mozzarella refers specifically to the fresh, stretched-curd cheese originally from Campania, traditionally made from buffalo milk (mozzarella di bufala). The cheaper cow's-milk version is fior di latte. In Italian the double 'z' is pronounced as a long 'ts' sound. The plural is mozzarelle, though it is often used as an uncountable mass noun in cooking contexts.

Examples

"La pizza napoletana ha la mozzarella di bufala."

Natural Translation

Neapolitan pizza has buffalo mozzarella.

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