What does pita mean?
A pita is a round, thin Middle Eastern bread whose interior can separate and puff up when it is baked or heated, creating a hollow pocket. It is commonly served warm, either on its own with dips such as hummus or used to hold fillings including falafel, grilled meats, vegetables, and salad. The word can refer both to the bread and, especially in British English, to the pocket within it. In restaurants, “pita” is frequently the more familiar term, while “pita pocket” explicitly identifies the bread's hollow centre. Pita is a relative of other unleavened or lightly leavened flatbreads, but it is not simply another name for tortillas, naan, or pita-style crackers. Its characteristic combination of a soft exterior, tender interior, and convenient pocket makes it especially useful for portable, filled meals.
nounA round, slightly leavened Middle Eastern flatbread that can puff up with steam and form a hollow pocket. The name may also refer to the pocket formed by this bread.
- A round Middle Eastern flatbread, especially one that forms a hollow pocket when heated.
- The hollow pocket within a pita, used to hold fillings such as meat, vegetables, or salad.
"She ordered a chicken pita with lettuce, tomatoes, and garlic sauce."
"We shared a platter of hummus and warm pita before dinner."
"He stuffed grilled vegetables and falafel into a large pita."
The plural is used when referring to separate pieces of bread, especially in menus, recipes, and food retail contexts.
"The bakery sells pitas made with olive oil and za'atar."
Steam can inflate a pita into a pocket, turning a flatbread into a ready-made edible container.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pita come from?
The English word dates from the 19th century and was borrowed through Ottoman Turkish, ultimately from Greek πίτα, an old term associated with a flatbread or cake. Its culinary sense became established in English through descriptions and recipes for Middle Eastern bread, with the pocket form contributing strongly to the word's modern familiarity.
How pita is actually used
Pita is common in both British and American English. Outside Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food contexts, it is usually encountered in restaurant menus and recipes, where a filled pita may also be called a pita pocket or simply a pocket.