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

Tossed with olive oil, tomatoes, jalapeño, feta and Parmesan cheese, the expertly al dente Rustichella rigatoni is not your everyday mac ‘n’ cheese dinner.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

I’ve made these a dozen different ways: cheddar and chive, goat cheese and red pepper, pizza-inspired, spinach and feta.

From Salon • May 22, 2026

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

It is estimated that in 2025 feta production reached 140,000 tonnes.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

He substituted feta cheese for the yak cheese in the recipe because yak cheese is very hard to come by, even in Manhattan.

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson