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noun

arugula

uh-ROO-guh-luh

Arugula (noun) means a peppery salad green, also called rocket, with a distinctive sharp, slightly bitter flavor. Example: “She tossed the arugula with olive oil, lemon, and shaved parmesan.”

noun
1
A peppery salad green, also called rocket, with a distinctive sharp, slightly bitter flavor.
"She tossed the arugula with olive oil, lemon, and shaved parmesan."
"The pizza came topped with fresh arugula and prosciutto."

How to Use Arugula

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA leafy green used raw in salads or as a pizza topping, known for its peppery bite.

UK vs US

Americans say arugula; British speakers almost always say rocket for the same plant.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
arugula salad baby arugula peppery arugula

Word Forms

arugulas plural

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Fill the Gap

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She tossed the _____ with olive oil, lemon, and shaved parmesan.

Etymology

Borrowed into American English from a southern Italian dialect word related to standard Italian rucola; British English instead uses "rocket," from the same ultimate root.

Origin: Italian

Related Words

Rhymes for arugula

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “arugula” mean?

The word “arugula” means a peppery salad green, also called rocket, with a distinctive sharp, slightly bitter flavor. In plain terms, a leafy green used raw in salads or as a pizza topping, known for its peppery bite.

How do you pronounce “arugula”?

“Arugula” is pronounced uh-ROO-guh-luh (/əˈɹuɡələ/ in IPA).

How do you use “arugula” in a sentence?

Here is “arugula” used in a sentence: “She tossed the arugula with olive oil, lemon, and shaved parmesan.”

What is another word for “arugula”?

Words with a similar meaning to “arugula” include rugola, rugula, garden rocket and rocket.

What part of speech is “arugula”?

“Arugula” is a noun.

Where does the word “arugula” come from?

The word “arugula” comes from Italian. Borrowed into American English from a southern Italian dialect word related to standard Italian rucola; British English instead uses "rocket," from the same ultimate root.

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