pepita

¹ American  

[puh-pee-tuh, pe-] / pəˈpi tə, pɛ- /

noun

1. the edible seed of a pumpkin or squash, used in cooking and often dried or toasted and eaten as a snack food.

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Pepita ² American  

[puh-pee-tuh, pe-, pe-pee-tah] / pəˈpi tə, pɛ-, pɛˈpi tɑ /

noun

1. a female given name.

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Etymology

Origin of pepita

From Spanish (southwestern U.S.), Spanish: “seed, pip,” probably derivative of the same Romance base, pep- (unattested), as Old French pepin pippin

Explanation

If you’re following a recipe that calls for pepitas, you'll need pumpkin or squash seeds. Pepitas also make a delicious, nutritious snack on their own. Pepita is borrowed straight from Spanish, where it means "little seed." Interestingly, French has a similar word, pépite, referring to a nugget or small bit of something good, such as a pépite de chocolat, a "chocolate chip." In English, we use the term pepita specifically for the small, green, hull-less seeds found in certain squashes, especially pumpkins.

Example Sentences

We especially enjoyed the chunky guacamole served with crispy pork belly, the yellowfin tuna tostados served with a pepita salsa matcha, and the butterflied bronzino served with a tomato avocado salsa and house-made tortillas.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2026

“This is the perfect make-ahead dessert because both the roasted rhubarb and strawberry mixture and the pepita crunch can be made up to 3 days ahead,” according to Catalano.

From Salon • May 23, 2025

If you want to crack open the seeds after roasting and just eat the more tender inner pepita, that’s fine too – kind of as you would eat a sunflower seed.

From Washington Times • Oct. 26, 2023

One morning last week, Clark made the first batch of the new Squish Squash Bon with a squash confection and a pepita gianduja.

From Washington Times • Oct. 24, 2016

The parish priest of Tabaco, however, almost always carried a pepita in his mouth.

From The Former Philippines thru Foreign Eyes by Craig, Austin