pepita

noun

pe·​pi·​ta pe-ˈpē-tä How to pronounce pepita (audio)
: the edible seed of a pumpkin or squash often dried or toasted

Examples of pepita in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Pickled cranberries, candied pepitas and blue cheese nestle into a decadent smear of butternut squash lined with streaks of hot honey. The Indianapolis Star, 19 Feb. 2024 The garlic flavor is yummy, with salty popcorn, pretzels, and pepitas over a base of plain cereal. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024 Stir the pepita mixture, drizzling in the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2024 Commonly called pepitas, shelled pumpkin seeds are popular in Mexico, both as an ingredient in cooking and as a snack. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Oct. 2023 Cook for 3 minutes, stirring once, until pepitas are toasted. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Oct. 2023 The traditional sugar pan de muerto is $7, their pepita praline version is $8 and their stuffed pan de muerto with guava and camote cream is $10. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2023 In a medium bowl combine pepitas, oil, salt, paprika, if using, and pepper; toss to coat well. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Oct. 2023 Squash and chiles are native to both the Western U.S. and Mexico; pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and pomegranate seeds are common in south of the border cooking. Sunset Staff, Sunset Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pepita.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pepita was in 1942

Dictionary Entries Near pepita

Cite this Entry

“Pepita.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pepita. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!