What does fetta mean?
Fetta is a variant spelling of feta, the soft white brined cheese that stands at the heart of Greek cooking. Made traditionally from sheep's milk, or from a blend of sheep's and goat's milk, it is cured and stored in brine, which gives it its characteristic tangy, salty flavour and crumbly yet creamy texture. In the kitchen it is remarkably versatile: scattered over salads, folded into spanakopita and other pastries, baked with vegetables, or served simply with olive oil, oregano, and bread. The spelling "fetta" appears most often in British and Australian English, while "feta" — borrowed directly from modern Greek — is the standard form elsewhere. Since 2002, "feta" has been a protected designation of origin within the European Union, reserved for cheese produced in defined Greek regions, which has made the name itself a matter of genuine legal and culinary significance.
nounA variant spelling of feta: a soft, white, salty brined cheese of Greek origin, traditionally made from sheep's milk or a mixture of sheep's and goat's milk.
- A soft, white, salty brined cheese of Greek origin, made traditionally from sheep's milk or sheep's and goat's milk; a variant spelling of feta.
"She crumbled fetta over the watermelon salad just before serving."
"The spanakopita was layered with spinach, herbs, and plenty of crumbled fetta."
"At the market she chose a barrel-aged fetta, far tangier than the supermarket kind."
Rarely used; fetta normally functions as an uncountable mass noun. A plural appears only when distinguishing different types or individual pieces.
"The cheese counter offered fettas from several different regions."
'Fetta' is simply feta wearing a second 't' — a variant spelling so widespread that dictionaries list it, but the EU protects only one name.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fetta
The word derives from modern Greek φέτα (féta), meaning 'slice', which entered English in the twentieth century alongside the cheese itself. The Greek term ultimately traces back to Italian fetta ('slice'), from Latin facere-related roots concerning cutting. The doubled-t spelling "fetta" reflects an anglicised rendering closer to the Italian source form.
How fetta is actually used
"Fetta" is chiefly a British and Australian variant spelling; "feta" is the standard form in American English and in most international usage. In the EU, "feta" is a protected designation of origin for cheese made in specific Greek regions, which legally applies to the product regardless of spelling.
Easily confused with fetta
Feta is the standard English spelling for the Greek brined cheese, while 'fetta' is a common variant spelling of the same word.