Zeppoli or Zeppole: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Italians use both zeppole and zeppoli for Italian fried pastries, but zeppole is the standard Italian plural form.

Imagine you walk into an Italian bakery. You see small, soft fried pastries covered in sugar. You ask the baker their name. The baker may call them zeppole. In some places, you may also see zeppoli.

This can be confusing. Are zeppoli or zeppole the same food? Is one spelling wrong?

The simple answer is both forms are used in English. Collins lists zeppole as the main word and gives zeppoli and zeppoles as plural forms in American English. Dictionary.com also lists zeppole, zeppoles, and zeppoli.

Zeppole are Italian pastriesPeople often make zeppole from fried dough. They may add powdered sugar on top. Bakers also fill some zeppole with cream, custard, chocolate, or jam.

The food also has strong links to Italian culture. People especially enjoy zeppole on St. Joseph’s Day, which Italians celebrate on March 19.

So, when you search for zeppoli or zeppole, you are looking at two forms used for a popular Italian pastry.

Pronunciation

Zeppole

US pronunciation:

• /zɛˈpoʊleɪ/
• Easy sound: zeh-POH-lay

UK pronunciation:

• /zɛˈpəʊlɪ/
• Easy sound: zeh-POH-lee

Collins gives these different US and UK forms.

Zeppoli

US pronunciation:

• /zɛpˈpoʊli/
• Easy sound: zeh-POH-lee

Collins lists zeppoli as an American English plural form.

Now let us look at the difference between these two forms.
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Difference Between Zeppoli or Zeppole

1. Both Refer to Italian Pastries

People use both words for Italian fried pastries.

Examples:

• We ordered fresh zeppole.
• The bakery sells zeppoli.

2. Zeppole Is the Italian Plural

The Italian singular is zeppola.

The plural is zeppole.

Examples:

• One pastry is a zeppola.
• Two pastries are zeppole.

Collins gives the word origin as Italian and says zeppole comes from the Italian plural of zeppola.

3. Zeppoli Is Used in English

Zeppoli is also used as a plural form in English.

It is especially found in American English.

Examples:

• We bought some zeppoli.
• The shop sells zeppoli every weekend.

4. Zeppole Is the Safer Choice

If you are not sure which form to use, zeppole is a good choice.

It is the standard Italian plural, and English speakers widely understand it.

Examples:

• We made fresh zeppole.
• The menu has traditional zeppole.

5. American English Uses Zeppoli

American English uses both zeppole and zeppoli.

Some American food writers and Italian American communities use zeppoli.

Examples:

• The family made zeppoli for the party.
• We bought a box of zeppoli.

6. Zeppoli Is Not Simply Wrong

It is not correct to say that zeppoli is always wrong.

Dictionaries list it as a plural form.

Examples:

• Zeppole is correct.
• Zeppoli is also used.

7. The Singular Form Is Zeppola

The singular Italian form is zeppola.

Examples:

• I ate one zeppola.
• We shared three zeppole.

8. Zeppole Can Look Different

Zeppole do not always have the same shape.

Many are small fried balls. Some are rings.Some have cream or other sweet fillings inside.

Examples:

• These zeppole have powdered sugar.
• These zeppole have cream.

9. Both Forms Can Appear in Food Writing

You may see both spellings in recipes, menus, blogs, and food stories.

Examples:

• Our menu has fresh zeppole.
• Try our homemade zeppoli.

10. The Spelling Can Depend on the Source

An Italian source may use zeppole.

An American source may use zeppole, zeppoli, or zeppoles.

Examples:

• Italian recipe: traditional zeppole.
• American recipe: homemade zeppoli.

Nature and Behaviour of Zeppoli or Zeppole

Nature of Zeppole

Zeppole are Italian pastries made in many different ways.

They are often made from dough and fried. They may have powdered sugar, cream, custard, chocolate, or other fillings.

Different parts of Italy have their own versions.

Nature of Zeppoli

Zeppoli is a plural form used in English.

It usually refers to the same general type of Italian pastry.

The exact shape, size, and recipe can change by region.

For example, some versions are sweet, while some Italian versions can be savory.

Why People Get Confused About Zeppoli or Zeppole

The main reason is the ending.

One person may write zeppole.

Another person may write zeppoli.

English dictionaries include both forms.

There is also a singular form:

Zeppola = one

Zeppole = more than one

In English, zeppoli is another plural form.

So, the spelling may change, but the words are closely related.

Comparison Table

Point	Zeppole	Zeppoli
Meaning	Italian pastry	Italian pastry
Number	Plural	Plural
Singular	Zeppola	Zeppola
Italian form	Standard	Not the standard Italian plural
English use	Very common	Accepted
US use	Common	Also used
UK use	Used	Less common
Food type	Fried pastry	Fried pastry
Can have sugar?	Yes	Yes
Can have cream?	Yes	Yes
Correct?	Yes	Yes

The Origin of Zeppoli or Zeppole

The word comes from Italian.

Zeppola is the Italian singular form, while zeppole is the Italian plural. Collins says the English word comes from Italian and dates to the 20th century in English use.

Zeppole have strong connections to Italian food culture, especially in areas such as Naples and Southern Italy. People also enjoy them in other parts of Italy and in Italian communities in countries such as the United States and Canada.

Zeppole are famous for St. Joseph’s Day, celebrated on March 19. In many places, they are sold as part of the celebration.

A written recipe for zeppole is linked to Ippolito Cavalcanti’s 1837 cookbook.

British vs American English

British and American English use the word in slightly different ways.

In American English, Collins lists zeppole, zeppoli, and zeppoles as plural forms.

In British English, Collins lists plural forms ending in -le, -li, or -lis.

Examples:

• US: We ordered zeppole.
• US: We ordered zeppoli.
• UK: We ordered zeppole.

Which One Should You Use?

Use zeppole if you want the safest choice.

It is the standard Italian plural form.

It works well in:

• Food articles
• Recipes
• Menus
• School writing
• General English
• SEO articles

Use zeppoli if you are following an American source or a source that uses this form.

For readers around the world, zeppole is usually the best main spelling.

You can also mention zeppoli as an accepted variant.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Saying Zeppoli Is Always Wrong

Wrong: Zeppoli is not a real word.

Better: Zeppoli is an accepted English plural form.

Mistake 2: Using Zeppola for Many Pastries

Wrong: I bought five zeppola.

Better: I bought five zeppole.

Mistake 3: Thinking Zeppole and Zeppoli Are Always Different Foods

Wrong: Zeppole and zeppoli are always two different foods.

Better: They are plural forms used for Italian pastries.

Mistake 4: Forgetting the Singular

Wrong: I ate one zeppole.

Better: I ate one zeppola.

Mistake 5: Changing the Spelling Without a Reason

If you are using the Italian form, use zeppole.

If you are following an American source, zeppoli may also be fine.

Everyday Usage Examples

In Emails

• We will serve zeppole at the event.
• Please order two boxes of zeppoli.

On Social Media

• Fresh zeppole today!
• These homemade zeppoli are so good.

In News

• Local bakeries prepared zeppole for St. Joseph’s Day.
• The bakery sold many zeppole.

In Formal Writing

• Zeppole are a well-known Italian pastry.
• The menu includes traditional zeppoli.

Usage Trends

Zeppole is widely used in food writing.

It appears in Italian recipes, restaurant menus, food blogs, and articles about Italian food.

Zeppoli is also used, especially in American English.

Collins lists zeppole and zeppoli as plural forms in American English. Dictionary.com also lists zeppoles and zeppoli.

Food words can have more than one spelling when they move from one language into another.

This is one reason you may see different forms on menus and websites.

Metaphors and Similes

Zeppole are food words, so they are not common metaphors.

But writers can use them in simple comparisons.

Like a Little Cloud

A soft zeppole can be compared to a little cloud.

Example:

The zeppole was light like a cloud.

Like a Sweet Bite of Italy

Zeppole can remind people of Italian food and culture.

Example:

These zeppole are like a sweet bite of Italy.

Like a Small Donut

Some zeppole can look like small donuts.

Example:

The fried zeppole looked like tiny donuts.

Connotative Meaning

Positive Meaning

Zeppole can have a warm and happy meaning.

They may remind people of:

• Family
• Holidays
• Italy
• Home
• Celebration

Example:

Grandma’s zeppole brought back happy memories.

Negative Meaning

The word zeppole does not normally have a negative meaning.

Example:

There is no negative meaning in the word zeppole.

Neutral Meaning

On a menu, zeppole is simply the name of a food.

Example:

Zeppole are on today’s menu.

Idioms and Proverbs

There are no common English idioms or proverbs that use zeppole or zeppoli.

The words are mainly used as food names.

Still, you may see simple food phrases with them.

Sweet Treat

We had zeppole as a sweet treat.

Save Room for Dessert

Save room for dessert. We have zeppole!

These are normal food phrases, not special zeppole idioms.

Literature and Movies

Zeppole appear in books and movies because they are part of Italian and Italian American food culture.

Literature

The word appears in fiction and food writing.

William Boyle’s short story “Whatever We’ll Be” appeared in The Shawangunk Review in 2005 and includes zeppole at an Italian American street fair.

Rosanna Chiofalo also wrote a novel called Zeppole, published by Kensington. The story uses an Italian pastry shop as part of its setting.

Movies

The 2025 American movie Nonnas includes zeppole in an early scene. Netflix’s official article about the movie describes young Joe buying the fried treats from a neighborhood bakery.

Why This Difference Matters

Knowing the difference between zeppole and zeppoli can help you write clearly.

It can also help when you read recipes, menus, and food blogs.

If you see zeppole, you should not assume it is a different food from zeppoli.

Both forms are used for Italian pastries.

The main point is simple:

Zeppole is the standard Italian plural.

Zeppoli is also an accepted English plural form.

This is useful for:

• English learners
• Food bloggers
• Restaurant owners
• Writers
• Students
• Travelers

Usefulness in Daily Life

You may see these words at Italian restaurants.

You may also see them in:

• Menus
• Recipes
• Food blogs
• Bakeries
• Social media
• Travel guides

Knowing both forms helps you understand what you are reading.

For example, one menu may say zeppole.

Another menu may say zeppoli.

You can understand both.

Situational Preference

Use zeppole when you want the standard Italian form. It is a good choice for recipes, food blogs, school work, and general writing. Use zeppoli when you are following American English or a source that uses this form. Both forms can refer to Italian fried pastries. If you are writing for readers around the world, zeppole is usually the clearest form. The simple rule is easy: zeppole is the standard Italian plural, while zeppoli is an accepted English plural form.

Possible Questions

Is zeppole or zeppoli correct?

Both can be used. Zeppole is the standard Italian plural. Zeppoli is also used as an English plural form.

What is the singular of zeppole?

The Italian singular is zeppola.

Is zeppoli the plural of zeppola?

Yes. Zeppoli is used as an English plural form of zeppola.

What are zeppole?

Zeppole are Italian pastries. They are often made from fried dough and may have sugar, cream, custard, chocolate, or other fillings.

How do you pronounce zeppole?

In American English, Collins gives pronunciations such as zeh-POH-lay. British English uses a sound closer to zeh-POH-lee.

Are zeppole Italian?

Yes. Zeppole are Italian pastries and are strongly linked with Italian food culture.

When do people eat zeppole?

Zeppole are strongly linked with St. Joseph’s Day, which is celebrated on March 19. They are also enjoyed at other times of the year.

Conclusion

Zeppole and zeppoli are both used to describe Italian pastries, but the main difference is the form of the word. Zeppola is the Italian singular form, while zeppole is the standard Italian plural form. Zeppoli is also used as a plural in English, especially in American English. The pastries themselves can vary depending on the region and recipe. Some zeppole are small fried dough balls, while others have different shapes, fillings, or toppings such as powdered sugar and cream. Zeppole are also an important part of Italian food culture and are strongly associated with St. Joseph’s Day, celebrated on March 19. For most writing, zeppole is the best choice because it is the standard Italian plural and is widely understood. However, zeppoli is also an accepted English plural. The simple rule is: one = zeppola, more than one = zeppole, and zeppoli = accepted English plural.