spaghetti
3 synonyms for spaghetti, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Long, thin strands of pasta, or a dish made from them.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
noodles
vermicelli
How to use spaghetti
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
spaghetti sauce
plate of spaghetti
spaghetti junction
Etymology
From Italian spaghetti, the plural of spaghetto ("a strand of spaghetti"), from spago ("string, twine").
Full origin of spaghetti →Frequently asked questions
What does “spaghetti” mean?
The word “spaghetti” means long, thin strands of pasta, or a dish made from them. In plain terms, long thin pasta strands — the classic dish is "spaghetti and meatballs.".
How do you pronounce “spaghetti”?
“Spaghetti” is pronounced spuh-GEH-tee (/spəˈɡɛti/ in IPA).
How do you use “spaghetti” in a sentence?
Here is “spaghetti” used in a sentence: “She boiled a pot of spaghetti for dinner.”
What part of speech is “spaghetti”?
Depending on how it is used, “spaghetti” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “spaghetti” come from?
The word “spaghetti” comes from Italian. From Italian spaghetti, the plural of spaghetto ("a strand of spaghetti"), from spago ("string, twine").
Is “spaghetti” a common word?
“Spaghetti” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “spaghetti” have?
“Spaghetti” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: long, thin strands of pasta, or a dish made from them.
What is the difference between spaghetti and other pasta shapes like linguine or fettuccine?
Spaghetti consists of long, thin, round strands, while linguine is flatter and fettuccine is wider and ribbon-like. The shape affects how each pasta holds sauce, with spaghetti suiting thinner, oil- or tomato-based sauces.
Can "spaghetti" be used as a verb?
Informally, yes: "to spaghetti" can describe becoming tangled or stretched out like strands of spaghetti, though this verb usage is far less common than the noun.
