feta

American  

[fet-uh] / ˈfɛt ə /

noun

1. a soft, white, brine-cured Greek cheese made from sheep's milk or goat's milk.

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feta British  

/ ˈfɛtə /

noun

1. a white sheep or goat cheese popular in Greece

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Etymology

Origin of feta

1935–40; < Modern Greek, short for tyrì phéta, equivalent to tyrí cheese ( Greek tyrós ) + phéta slice < Italian fetta ( see fettuccine)

Explanation

Feta is a crumbly, tangy cheese that's traditionally made from sheep's milk. Feta is an ingredient in many Greek foods, like spanakopita, or spinach pie. If you've tasted feta, you know what a distinctly sharp, salty flavor this soft white cheese has. Traditional feta is formed into blocks and cured in brine to give it that taste. You can crumble feta into salads, omelets, sandwiches, or anything else that needs a little extra salt or tanginess. Feta is from the Modern Greek tyri pheta, "slice of cheese."

Example Sentences

The EU says a primitive form of feta is mentioned in the Odyssey, when the hero of the ancient epic takes cheese from the cave of the cyclops Polyphemus.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Existing Australian producers will be allowed to call their product feta, but new dairy companies won’t be able to.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

She told AFP that because of the animal culls, her milk deliveries have fallen by up to 50 percent, resulting in a corresponding reduction in feta production.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

"That's why whether it's Greeks coming here and creating feta, or Italians coming and doing parmesan or people from Eastern Europe doing kransky sausages - it's a connection with Europe."

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

I pulled the feta cheese out from the highest corner of the refrigerator door.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram