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Definition of capicola
capicola
/ˌkæp.ɪˈkoʊ.lə/
ca · pi · co · la
Plural:capicolas
capicola Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
American A traditional Italian dry-cured cold cut made from pork shoulder or neck, typically seasoned with wine, garlic, and spices.
Example
"The neighborhood deli prepares a classic sub sandwich layered with provolone, salami, and thinly sliced spicy capicola."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for capicolaWord Nuance & Usage
In Italian-American regional dialects and pop culture, this meat is famously pronounced and sometimes spelled as 'gabagool', though 'capicola' remains the standard culinary spelling in English.
• Rhymes for capicola
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English from the Italian 'capocollo', combining 'capo' (head) and 'collo' (neck), denoting the specific cut of pork used to make the cold cut.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Capicola. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/capicola