Tranci

Tranci is the plural form of the Italian noun trancio, meaning a large piece cut from a whole. The term is used primarily in culinary contexts to denote a substantial portion rather than a thin slice.

In everyday Italian, tranci describes portions intended to be eaten as a single piece. It is commonly applied to various foods, especially those served in sizable cuts. Examples include a trancio di pizza (a large slice of pizza), a trancio di pane (a large slice of bread), or a trancio di torta (a large slice of cake). In seafood and meat contexts, tranci often refers to thicker cuts such as tranci di pesce (fish steaks) or tranci di carne.

The construction tagliare a tranci means to cut something into large pieces, as opposed to finer slicing. The expression in tranci can indicate that a dish is served in thick portions rather than in standard-sized slices. In menus and recipes, tranci is widely understood to signal portion size, and the term is common in Italian-speaking regions and culinary journalism.

Linguistically, tranci is masculine and plural; the singular is trancio. While native to Italian, the term appears in non-Italian culinary writing and menus when describing Italian-style portions. In English contexts, trancio or tranchi is typically translated or paraphrased as “thick slice” or “steak,” depending on the food. The concept emphasizes portion size and presentation rather than a specific cooking method.