newyork.localmean.com/zeppole
Zeppole
ZEP-oh-lay
Local meaning
Italian fried dough pastries, commonly served warm and dusted heavily with powdered sugar.
In New York, zeppole are especially associated with Italian street fairs, feast days, pizzerias, and festival stands. The familiar local version is often sold in a paper bag, though Italian and Italian-American recipes can include cream-filled or differently shaped varieties.
Example in context
- “We grabbed a bag of zeppole at the street fair.”
How it is used
An Italian food word with a highly visible New York Italian-American street-fair context.
neutral, festive, food-specific
street fairs, Italian feasts, pizzerias, festivals
An Italian food word with a highly visible New York Italian-American street-fair context.
The singular and plural forms vary in English use, and recipes may contain wheat, dairy, egg, or other allergens.
Spelling and scope
An Italian food word with a highly visible New York Italian-American street-fair context.
- Search forms
zeppole meaning New Yorkzeppole street fair NYCItalian fried dough balls
LocalMean keeps common search spellings discoverable without claiming that every borough, community, or generation uses one written form.
Frequently asked questions
Are zeppole the same as doughnuts?
They belong to the fried-dough family, but ingredients, shape, texture, and serving tradition differ.
Why are zeppole common at New York street fairs?
Italian-American feast and festival traditions made fresh fried dough a familiar city fair food.
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
These sources support the regional association, dictionary sense, or broader spread. The entry remains open to correction from New York speakers and qualified reviewers.
- zeppoleMerriam-Webster
Dictionary definition and Italian etymology for zeppole.
- Geographic Variation in Slang SemanticsarXiv
Research showing that slang meanings and associations vary by geography and community.