feta

noun

fe·​ta ˈfe-tə 

ˈfe-ˌtä

often capitalized

: a white moderately hard and crumbly Greek cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk and cured in brine

Examples of feta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Another hit is the Mediterranean, which features Italian squash, Greek olives, spinach, onions and three cheeses (Monterey jack, feta and ricotta). —Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025

Look for salty finishers like Cotija, rich orbs of buffalo mozzarella and burrata, grill-friendly Halloumi, dense planks of paneer, and crumbly feta. —Chris Morocco, Bon Appétit, 15 Jan. 2025

Cheese, burgers, and even feta: There’s actually a vegan version of (almost) everything your heart desires, and the taste often comes close to the original. —Anna Bader, Glamour, 2 Jan. 2025

Also stuffed in the tortilla: feta crumbles, tangy cucumber dressing, spring mix and tomatoes. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Modern Greek (tyri) pheta, from tyri cheese + pheta slice, from Italian fetta — more at fettuccine

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

feta

noun

fe·​ta ˈfet-ə 

ˈfe-ˌtä

: a white Greek cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk and cured in salt water

Etymology

from modern Greek pheta "slice (of cheese)"