pizzaiolo

noun

piz·​za·​io·​lo ˌpēt-sə-ˈyō-(ˌ)lō 

plural pizzaiolos or pizzaioli ˌpēt-sə-ˈyō-lē 

: a pizza maker

According to one pizzaiolo ("dude who slings pizzas"), one should "always come for a pizza either before 8 pm or after 10 pm when the pizzeria is half-empty" for an optimum slice of pie.

—Madison Dapcevich

A16 is known for its Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas from certified pizzaiolo, Chef Christopher Thompson, along with other signature dishes …

—Alexis Korman

We chatted with some of the best pizzaioli in the country for tips on how to grill pizza in the summer, without making a mess or burning everything.

—Ximena Larkin

compare pizzaiola

Examples of pizzaiolo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The mortadella pie’s seduction begins with its base, baked from a dough that Morgan developed with Anthony Falco, the pizzaiolo who made a name for himself at Roberta’s in Brooklyn before becoming a gun for hire with his own consulting firm. —Tim Carman, Washington Post, 21 June 2023

With a new breed of portable ovens and an anything-goes spirit, roving pizzaiolos are turning out impressive pies at bars, breweries and events. —Pete Wells, New York Times, 9 May 2023

So, about six weeks ago, the business partners reformulated their dough with a new Italian flour that has been warmly received by both the company’s pizzaiolos and loyal customers. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2023

The standout is Di Nando Pizzeria, whose pizzaiolo, Fernando Almeida, routinely wins awards. —Ann Abel, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023

Aaron Lindell, the chief pizzaiolo at Quarter Sheets in Echo Park, sometimes spreads Balinese-style sambal — made by sisters Celene and Tara Carrara, who run the Bungkus Bagus pop-up — as a fiery base among toppings of pepperoni, pineapple and pickled jalapeños. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2022

Until recently, an aspiring pizzaiolo had no choice but to crank up their kitchen oven to the standard 450 degrees Fahrenheit. —Adrienne So, Wired, 11 Aug. 2022

BurgerBob's Concessions Bottled water; chicken Philly sandwich; chicken spiedies; chicken tenders; coffee; corn dog caliente; French fries; hamburgers; hot dogs; iced tea; Italian/Polish sausage sandwich; nachos and cheese; Pepsi products; steak pizzaiolo. —The Indianapolis Star, 25 July 2022

The thing is, Bucolo is a pizzaiolo. —Julia Buckley, CNN, 26 Aug. 2021

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Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian pizzaiolo, pizzaiuolo "person who makes and sells pizzas," from pizza pizza + -aiolo, -aiuolo, suffix of occupations, from -aio, suffix of agency and appurtenance (going back to Latin -ārius -ary entry 1) + -olo, -uolo, diminutive suffix (going back to Latin -eolus, -iolus)

Note: Probably originally a word in Neapolitan dialect; cf. pizzaiòla, pizzaiuólo in Antonio Altamura, Dizionario dialettale napoletano (Naples, 1956), p. 183. The suffix, however, with loss of r in the original sequence -ri̯-, is apparently of Tuscan origin.

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above