First recorded in 1905–10; from Italian: literally, “(cheese) of ewes,” from adjective pecorino, from pecora “sheep, ewe” + -ino, from Late Latin pecorīnus “relating to sheep,” from Latin pecus (stem pecor- ) “farm animals, livestock” + -īnus adjective suffix; akin to fief ( def. ); -ine 1 ( def. )
Pecorino is a hard Italian cheese that tastes similar to Parmesan. Unlike that more widely-known cheese, pecorino is made from sheep's milk. Instead of grating Parmesan on your spaghetti, you could use pecorino instead. It's also crumbly and salty, but because it's not aged as long, pecorino is a bit softer and has less of Parmesan's nutty sweetness. Some people also detect a slight tanginess in the flavor of pecorino, probably because it's made from the milk of sheep, rather than cows. Pecorino derives from pecora, Italian for "sheep."
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, olive oil, Pecorino and black pepper.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026
Cheese: Parmigiano-Reggiano is classic, but try Manchego or Pecorino for a funkier edge.
From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2025
Sheep milk is too rich in fat and protein for most to drink but creates delectable cheese such as Manchego, Pecorino and feta.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 16, 2023
The latter is made from not two but six blends of cheese — cheddar, havarti, Swiss, Gouda, Monterey Jack and Pecorino Romano — and lots of cream cheese.
From Salon ● Apr. 7, 2023
Pecorino Italy Italian cheese made from ewe's milk.
From The Complete Book of Cheese by Brown, Robert Carlton
There’s a pecorino plum crumble, for instance, and a gouda apple galette, combinations that sound mischievous until you taste how naturally they click.
From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2025
He regretted contradicting the British site, but clarified that "the original recipe for cacio e pepe excludes parmesan and butter. There are not four ingredients, but three: pasta, pepper and pecorino".
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2025
And if ricotta salata is not available, finely grated pecorino Romano is a reasonable swap, but halve the amount.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 16, 2023
The toppings — like the cacio e pepe pizza with Samish Bay mozzarella, pecorino and plenty of black pepper — are balanced and thoughtful.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 26, 2023
He had ordered a salad topped with warm lambs’ tongue, a poached egg, and pecorino cheese, something she swore she would not touch but ended up eating the better part of.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Its mayor, Jean-Luc Pecorini, can see the border from his office, less than 100 metres away on the other side of the highway.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2025
The camerawork by Nicola Pecorini, another close Gilliam collaborator, makes the most of the film’s locations in Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands to evocative effect.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2019
Pecorini, also a “Fear and Loathing” alumnus, said that according to his records, since he signed on, there had been a dozen attempts to make the film.
From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2019
When asked what sometimes irked him about working with Gilliam, Pecorini said stubbornness, a quality Amy Gilliam also cited about her father and one that she shares with him.
From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2019
Each time, Pecorini said in an interview, he was “totally skeptical.”
From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2019
It’s for this and the other cheeses, like the Montaggio and the Sardinian Pecorinos, that customers line up at the Riverdale Farmers Market.
From New York Times ● Apr. 11, 2014
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
