Pasta Database

What pasta names mean

Almost every pasta name is a picture. Italian builds the picture with a noun and a suffix. The suffix says the size: -ini and -etti and -elle mean small, -oni means large. So spaghetti are little strings, spaghettini are smaller strings, and spaghettoni are big ones. Farfalle are butterflies, and farfalline are the small ones that go in soup.

The nouns come from the kitchen, the farm, and the church. Ears, shells, butterflies, worms, little tongues, priest stranglers, bridegrooms, radiators, and the flower of a mallow. Here is every name on the site with what it means.

This page explains the name. To look a name up, including regional names and spellings, use the A to Z glossary.

A

Acini di pepe, uncooked, on linen
Acini di pepeAH-chee-nee dee PEH-peh
Peppercorns.
Agnolini, uncooked, on linen
Agnolini
A diminutive linked to an old word for angel. The Mantuan dialect names are agnulìn and agnulì.
Agnolotti, uncooked, on linen
Agnolottiah-nyoh-LOT-tee
Possibly from anolini, or from a cook named Angelot. Del plin means pinched, from the fold.
Alphabet pasta, uncooked, on linen
Alphabet pastaal-fah-BET-toh
Alfabeto in Italian.
Anelli, uncooked, on linen
Anelliah-NEL-lee
Rings. Anellini are the small grade, anelloni the large.
Anolini, uncooked, on linen
Anoliniah-noh-LEE-nee
Little rings, from anello.
Armonie, uncooked, on linen
Armonie
Italian for harmonies. No source explains why the shape carries the name.

B

Barbine, uncooked, on linen
Barbine
Italian for little beards, from barba, beard. The singular is barbina.
Bigoli, uncooked, on linen
BigoliBEE-goh-lee
From the Venetian bigolo, a worm or a fat strand.
Boccoli, uncooked, on linen
Boccoli
Italian for ringlets, the curls of hair the helical twist resembles.
Bucatini, uncooked, on linen
Bucatiniboo-kah-TEE-nee
From buco, hole. Pierced strands. Perciatelli, from perciare, to pierce, is the Neapolitan name for the same thing.
Busiate, uncooked, on linen
Busiateboo-zee-AH-teh
From buso, the dried stem of a local grass that the dough was wound around.

C

Caccavelle, uncooked, on linen
Caccavelle
Neapolitan for pots. Wikipedia traces it to Latin cacabus, a cooking pot.
Calamarata, uncooked, on linen
Calamaratakah-lah-mah-RAH-tah
From calamaro, squid. The ring looks like a sliced squid body.
Campanelle, uncooked, on linen
Campanellekam-pah-NEL-leh
Little bells. Gigli, lilies, is the other name.
Candele, uncooked, on linen
Candelekan-DEH-leh
Candles. Long straight tubes the length of a candle.
Cannelloni, uncooked, on linen
Cannellonikan-nel-LOH-nee
From canna, a reed or cane, with the augmentative -oni. Big reeds.
Capellini, uncooked, on linen
Capellinikah-pel-LEE-nee
From capello, hair, with the diminutive -ini. Fine hairs. Capelli d'angelo, angel hair, is the finest grade.
Cappellacci, uncooked, on linen
Cappellaccikap-pel-LAH-chee
Big rough hats, from cappello with the pejorative -accio. PGI protected as cappellacci di zucca ferraresi since 2016.
Cappelletti, uncooked, on linen
Cappellettikap-pel-LET-tee
Little hats, from cappello.
Cappelli da chef, uncooked, on linen
Cappelli da chef
Italian for chef's hats. The piece resembles a cook's tall hat.
Capunti, uncooked, on linen
Capuntikah-POON-tee
Puglian dialect, related to cavatelli. The three finger marks look like a pea pod.
Caramelle, uncooked, on linen
Caramellekah-rah-MEL-leh
Sweets, for the twisted-wrapper shape.
Casarecce, uncooked, on linen
Casareccekah-zah-RECH-cheh
Home-made, from casa. The shape imitates a strip of dough rolled by hand around a rod.
Cascatelli, uncooked, on linen
Cascatellikas-kah-TEL-lee
Little waterfalls. Invented by Dan Pashman of the Sporkful podcast with Sfoglini, released March 2021.
Casoncelli, uncooked, on linen
Casoncellikah-zon-CHEL-lee
Bergamasque and Brescian dialect, from casa, home-made, or from calzone.
Castellane, uncooked, on linen
Castellane
Italian for castle ladies. The coiled shell recalls the long skirts of noblewomen in a medieval castle.
Casunziei, uncooked, on linen
Casunziei
A Ladin name for a filled pasta. Ladin variants include casonciei, casanzes and cajincì.
Cavatappi, uncooked, on linen
Cavatappikah-vah-TAP-pee
Corkscrew. Barilla's trademark for the same shape is cellentani, after the singer Adriano Celentano.
Cavatelli, uncooked, on linen
Cavatellikah-vah-TEL-lee
From cavare, to hollow out. Twenty-eight regional names, including cavatieddi, capunti, and cecatelli.
Cencioni, uncooked, on linen
Cencioni
Italian for little rags, from cencio, a rag.
Chifferi, uncooked, on linen
ChifferiKEEF-feh-ree
From the Austrian Kipferl, a crescent pastry. The curved tube looks like a small croissant.
Cjarsons, uncooked, on linen
Cjarsonschar-SONS
Friulian, of uncertain origin. Also cjalsons.
Conchiglie, uncooked, on linen
Conchigliekon-KEE-lyeh
Shells, from conchiglia, a seashell.
Conchiglioni, uncooked, on linen
Conchiglionikon-kee-LYOH-nee
Conchiglie with the augmentative -oni. Big shells.
Coralli, uncooked, on linen
Coralli
Italian for corals. The short tubes look like pieces of coral or small pearls.
Corallini, uncooked, on linen
Corallini
Italian for little corals. The tiny tubes look like bits of coral.
Corzetti, uncooked, on linen
Corzettikor-TSET-tee
From a Genoese coin, the corzetto, which the stamped disc resembles.
Creste di gallo, uncooked, on linen
Creste di galloKRES-teh dee GAL-loh
Cockscombs. The ruffle along the curve looks like a rooster's crest.
Culurgiones, uncooked, on linen
Culurgioneskoo-loor-JOH-nes
Sardinian, of uncertain origin. PGI protected as culurgionis d'Ogliastra.
Curzoli, uncooked, on linen
Curzoli
Romagnol for shoelaces. The square strands look like the leather laces once used for shoes.

D

Ditali, uncooked, on linen
Ditalidee-TAH-lee
From ditale, thimble.
Ditalini, uncooked, on linen
Ditalinidee-tah-LEE-nee
Ditali with the diminutive -ini. Little thimbles.

F

Fagioloni, uncooked, on linen
Fagioloni
Fagioloni means large beans. The short tube looks like a bean pod.
Fagottini, uncooked, on linen
Fagottini
Little bundles. From fagotto, a bundle, which traces back to the old French fagot, a bundle of sticks.
Fainelle, uncooked, on linen
Fainelle
Fainella is the Foggia dialect word for a carob pod. The pasta is shaped like one.
Farfalle, uncooked, on linen
Farfallefar-FAL-leh
Butterflies. Bow ties in English.
Farfalline, uncooked, on linen
Farfallinefar-fal-LEE-neh
Little butterflies.
Fazzoletti, uncooked, on linen
Fazzolettifat-tsoh-LET-tee
Handkerchiefs. Mandilli de sea, silk handkerchiefs, in Genoese.
Fedelini, uncooked, on linen
Fedelinifed-eh-LEE-nee
From fedele, faithful. The medieval word fidelli named a thin strand in Genoa and Sicily.
Festoni, uncooked, on linen
Festoni
Festone means a festoon, a garland hung in loops for a celebration. The scalloped edges recall one.
Fettuccine, uncooked, on linen
Fettuccinefet-too-CHEE-neh
From fettuccia, a small ribbon or tape, itself from fetta, a slice.
Fileja, uncooked, on linen
Filejafee-LEH-yah
Calabrian dialect, from the thin rod, the dinaculu, used to shape it.
Filini, uncooked, on linen
Filini
Little threads. From filo, a thread.
Fiorentine, uncooked, on linen
Fiorentine
Florentine, in the manner of Florence.
Fiori, uncooked, on linen
Fiori
Flowers. From fiore, a flower.
Foglie d'ulivo, uncooked, on linen
Foglie d'ulivoFOH-lyeh DOO-lee-voh
Olive leaves.
Fregola, uncooked, on linen
FregolaFREH-goh-lah
From the Latin fricare, to rub, for the rolling of wet semolina between the hands. Fregula in Sardinian.
Funghini, uncooked, on linen
Funghini
Little mushrooms. Diminutive of fungo, a mushroom.
Fusi, uncooked, on linen
Fusi
Fuso means a spindle. The rolled diamond of dough looks like one.
Fusilli, uncooked, on linen
Fusillifoo-ZEEL-lee
From fuso, spindle. Hand-made fusilli were wound around a knitting needle, the ferretto.
Fusilli lunghi, uncooked, on linen
Fusilli lunghifoo-ZEEL-lee LOON-ghee
Fusilli, from fuso, spindle, plus lunghi, long. The dried version is usually fusilli lunghi bucati, long pierced fusilli.

G

Garganelli, uncooked, on linen
Garganelligar-gah-NEL-lee
From garganel, Romagnol dialect for a chicken's gullet, which the ridged tube resembles.
Gemelli, uncooked, on linen
Gemellijeh-MEL-lee
Twins. The shape looks like two strands twisted together; it is actually one strand folded and twisted.
Gnocchetti sardi, uncooked, on linen
Gnocchetti sardinyok-KET-tee SAR-dee
Little Sardinian gnocchi.
Gnocchi, uncooked, on linen
GnocchiNYOK-kee
From nocca, knuckle, or from the Lombard knohha, a knot.
Gramigna, uncooked, on linen
Gramignagrah-MEE-nyah
Couch grass, the weed, for the curling strands.
Grano, uncooked, on linen
Grano
Grano means wheat. Each piece copies a grain of durum wheat.
Grattoni, uncooked, on linen
Grattoni
From grattugiare, to grate. The dough is grated or chopped into crumbs.

I

ingannapreti, uncooked, on linen
ingannapreti
Priest-tricker. The empty cone looks like a filled cappelletto but holds nothing.

L

Lagane, uncooked, on linen
Lagane
From the Latin laganum, a flat sheet of dough. The same root gives lasagne.
Lanterne, uncooked, on linen
Lanterne
Lanterns. The curved, ridged piece recalls an old oil lantern.
Lasagne, uncooked, on linen
Lasagnelah-ZAH-nyeh
From the Latin lasanum, a cooking pot, or the Greek laganon, a flat sheet of dough. Lasagne is the plural; lasagna is one sheet, and the American name for the dish.
Lasagnette, uncooked, on linen
Lasagnettelah-zah-NYET-teh
Lasagne with the diminutive -ette. Little lasagne.
Linguine, uncooked, on linen
Linguinelin-GWEE-neh
From lingua, tongue, with the diminutive -ine. Little tongues.
Lorighittas, uncooked, on linen
Lorighittasloh-ree-GHEET-tas
Sardinian, from loriga, a ring or an earring.
Lumache, uncooked, on linen
Lumacheloo-MAH-keh
Snails.

M

Macaroni, uncooked, on linen
Macaronimak-ah-ROH-nee
Maccheroni, from the Sicilian maccarruni, possibly from maccare, to crush. In Naples it once meant all dried pasta.
maccaronara, uncooked, on linen
maccaronara
Named after the maccaronara, the grooved wooden or brass rolling pin that cuts the sheet into strands.
Maccheroncelli, uncooked, on linen
Maccheroncelli
A diminutive of maccheroni: small maccheroni.
Maccheroncini di Campofilone, uncooked, on linen
Maccheroncini di Campofilonemak-keh-ron-CHEE-nee dee kam-poh-fee-LOH-neh
Little macaroni from Campofilone, a town in the Marche. Protected geographical indication since 2013.
Maccheroni al ferretto, uncooked, on linen
Maccheroni al ferrettomak-keh-ROH-nee al fer-RET-toh
Macaroni on the little iron, the ferretto or ferro, a square-section rod.
Maccheroni alla molinara, uncooked, on linen
Maccheroni alla molinara
Molinara and mugnaia both mean the miller's wife. The name recalls the watermills on the River Fino.
Mafaldine, uncooked, on linen
Mafaldinemah-fal-DEE-neh
Named for Princess Mafalda of Savoy, born 1902. Reginette, little queens, is the same shape.
Malloreddus, uncooked, on linen
Malloreddusmal-loh-RED-doos
Sardinian for little bulls or fat calves. Gnocchetti sardi is the mainland name.
Maltagliati, uncooked, on linen
Maltagliatimal-tah-LYAH-tee
From mal tagliati, badly cut. The offcuts from making tagliatelle.
Manicotti, uncooked, on linen
Manicottiman-ee-KOT-tee
Little sleeves, from manica, sleeve. The word is Italian; the pasta is Italian-American.
Margheritine, uncooked, on linen
Margheritine
Little daisies. Margherita is the Italian word for daisy.
Marille, uncooked, on linen
Marille
Wikipedia links the name to mare, the sea. The cross section looks like a rolling wave.
Marubini, uncooked, on linen
Marubinimah-roo-BEE-nee
Cremonese dialect, of uncertain origin.
Merletti, uncooked, on linen
Merletti
Merletti means pieces of lace in Italian.
Mezzani, uncooked, on linen
Mezzani
Mezzi means half. It refers to the tube's diameter, which is smaller than ziti, not to its length.
Mezze maniche, uncooked, on linen
Mezze manicheMED-dzeh MAH-nee-keh
Half sleeves. The short tube looks like a shirt sleeve cut off at the elbow.
Mezzelune, uncooked, on linen
Mezzelunemed-dzeh-LOO-neh
Half moons. Schlutzkrapfen in South Tyrol.
Mezzi bombardoni, uncooked, on linen
Mezzi bombardoni
Half-size bombardoni. The parent shape is named for the bombard, an early cannon.
Mezzi rigatoni, uncooked, on linen
Mezzi rigatoniMED-dzee ree-gah-TOH-nee
Mezzi, half, plus rigatoni.
Mostaccioli, uncooked, on linen
Mostacciolimoh-stah-CHOH-lee
From mostaccioli, a southern Italian spiced biscuit of similar diamond shape. The pasta name is American.

N

Nuvole, uncooked, on linen
Nuvole
Nuvole means clouds.

O

Occhi di lupo, uncooked, on linen
Occhi di lupoOK-kee dee LOO-poh
Wolf's eyes, for the round open ends.
Occhi di passero, uncooked, on linen
Occhi di passero
Sparrow's eyes. The tiny ring with a hole looks like a small bird's eye.
Occhi di pernice, uncooked, on linen
Occhi di pernice
Partridge's eyes.
Orecchiette, uncooked, on linen
Orecchietteoh-rek-KYET-teh
Little ears.
Orzo, uncooked, on linen
OrzoOR-tsoh
Barley. Risoni, big rice, is the Italian shelf name; orzo is the American one.

P

Paccheri, uncooked, on linen
PaccheriPAK-keh-ree
From the Neapolitan pacchero, a slap, for the sound they make hitting the plate.
Pansotti, uncooked, on linen
Pansottipan-SOT-tee
Pot-bellied, from pancia, belly.
Pappardelle, uncooked, on linen
Pappardellepap-par-DEL-leh
From pappare, Tuscan for to gobble up.
parmatieddi, uncooked, on linen
parmatieddi
From parmi, the local word for palms: the palm fronds of Palm Sunday, or the palm of the hand that shapes them.
Pasta al ceppo, uncooked, on linen
Pasta al ceppo
Ceppo means a log or a stick. The name describes a strip of dough rolled around a stick, like a cinnamon stick.
Pastina, uncooked, on linen
Pastinapas-TEE-nah
Little pasta.
Penne, uncooked, on linen
PennePEN-neh
From penna, a quill pen. The diagonal cut is the nib. A Genoese pasta maker patented the cutting machine in 1865.
Penne lisce, uncooked, on linen
Penne liscePEN-neh LEE-sheh
Penne with liscio, smooth.
Pennette, uncooked, on linen
Pennettepen-NET-teh
Penne with the diminutive -ette. Little quills. Pennettine are smaller still.
Pennoni, uncooked, on linen
Pennonipen-NOH-nee
Penne with the augmentative -oni. Big quills.
Perciatelli, uncooked, on linen
Perciatelliper-chah-TEL-lee
From perciare, Neapolitan for to pierce. Pierced strands.
Picagge, uncooked, on linen
Picagge
In Genoese dialect the word means cotton ribbons or tapes. The Wikipedia list also reports a Savona sense: the ribbons a dressmaker uses.
Pici, uncooked, on linen
PiciPEE-chee
From appiciare, Tuscan for to roll between the hands. Umbria calls the same pasta umbricelli or strangozzi.
Piombi, uncooked, on linen
Piombi
Piombi means leads, as in lead shot. The name describes small round pellets of pasta.
Pipe rigate, uncooked, on linen
Pipe rigatePEE-peh ree-GAH-teh
Pipes, for the bent tube. Lumache, snails, is the other name for the same shape.
pisarei, uncooked, on linen
pisarei
From Piacenza dialect. Most sources link it to pisarell, a small penis, from the verb pisä. Others cite Spanish pisar, to press.
Pizzarelle, uncooked, on linen
Pizzarellepit-tsah-REL-leh
Little pizze, from pizza in its old sense of a flat piece of dough.
Pizzoccheri, uncooked, on linen
Pizzoccheripit-TSOK-keh-ree
Uncertain. Possibly from pizzo, a piece, or from the Lombard bizzo, a mouthful.

Q

Quadrefiore, uncooked, on linen
Quadrefiore
From quadro, square, and fiore, flower: a square flower.
Quadrucci, uncooked, on linen
Quadruccikwah-DROO-chee
Little squares.

R

Radiatori, uncooked, on linen
Radiatorirah-dee-ah-TOH-ree
Radiators. A twentieth-century industrial shape, named for the finned engine part.
Ravioli, uncooked, on linen
Raviolirah-vee-OH-lee
Possibly from rabiole, Genoese for leftovers, the scraps that went into the filling. First recorded in the 1200s.
Riccioli, uncooked, on linen
Riccioli
Riccioli means curls. The name describes the loose spiral of each piece.
Ricciolini, uncooked, on linen
Ricciolini
Diminutive of riccioli, curls: little curls.
Ricciutelle, uncooked, on linen
Ricciutelle
From riccio, curly: little curly ones.
Rigatoni, uncooked, on linen
Rigatoniree-gah-TOH-nee
From rigato, lined or grooved, with the augmentative -oni. The big grooved ones.
Rombi, uncooked, on linen
Rombi
Rombi is the plural of rombo, a rhombus. The name describes the diamond cut.
Rotelle, uncooked, on linen
Rotelleroh-TEL-leh
Little wheels, from rota. Ruote is the other name.
Rotini, uncooked, on linen
Rotiniroh-TEE-nee
Little wheels, from rota. The name is American; in Italy the shape is fusilli or eliche.
Rustiche, uncooked, on linen
Rustiche
Feminine plural of rustico, meaning rustic.

S

Sacchettoni, uncooked, on linen
Sacchettoni
Augmentative of sacchetto, a small bag: big little sacks. English menus call them beggar's purses.
Sagnarelli, uncooked, on linen
Sagnarelli
A diminutive of sagne, the central Italian word for a strip cut from a sheet of dough. It shares a root with lasagne.
Sagne 'ncannulate, uncooked, on linen
Sagne 'ncannulateSAH-nyeh in-kan-noo-LAH-teh
Rolled lasagne, from sagne, a Salento word for a strip, and incannulare, to wind on a cane.
Scialatielli, uncooked, on linen
Scialatiellishah-lah-tee-EL-lee
From the Neapolitan scialare, to enjoy, or sciglià, to ruffle. Invented on the Amalfi coast in the 1960s by chef Enrico Cosentino.
Sedani, uncooked, on linen
SedaniSEH-dah-nee
From sedano, celery. The ridged curved tube looks like a stalk. Older name: zanne d'elefante, elephant tusks.
Semi di melone, uncooked, on linen
Semi di meloneSEH-mee dee meh-LOH-neh
Melon seeds.
Sorprese, uncooked, on linen
Sorprese
Italian for surprises. The tiny folded pieces look like a filled pasta, but they hold no filling.
Spaghetti, uncooked, on linen
Spaghettispah-GET-tee
From spago, Italian for twine or string, with the diminutive -etto. Little strings.
Spaghettini, uncooked, on linen
Spaghettinispah-get-TEE-nee
Spaghetti with the diminutive -ini. Thin little strings.
Spaghettoni, uncooked, on linen
Spaghettonispah-get-TOH-nee
Spaghetti with the augmentative -oni. Big strings.
Stelline, uncooked, on linen
Stellinestel-LEE-neh
Little stars. Stellette and stelle are the larger grades.
Stortini, uncooked, on linen
Stortini
Italian for little crooked ones, from storto, meaning bent or crooked. The name describes the small curved tube.
Strapponi, uncooked, on linen
Strapponi
From the verb strappare, to tear. The pieces are torn from the sheet by hand instead of cut.
Strascinati, uncooked, on linen
Strascinatistrah-shee-NAH-tee
Dragged, from strascinare.
strigoli, uncooked, on linen
strigoli
One Tuscan producer links the name to strigare, to untangle or twist, after the rolling motion that shapes each strip. Not confirmed elsewhere.
Stringozzi, uncooked, on linen
Stringozzistrin-GOT-tsee
From stringa, shoelace. Strangozzi, the Spoleto name, suggests strangling.
Strozzapreti, uncooked, on linen
Strozzapretistrot-tsah-PREH-tee
Priest-stranglers. The story is that a greedy priest choked on them, or that a housewife wished he would.
Su filindeu, uncooked, on linen
Su filindeusoo fee-lin-DEH-oo
Sardinian for the threads of God.

T

Tagliatelle, uncooked, on linen
Tagliatelletah-lyah-TEL-leh
From tagliare, to cut. The cut ones.
Tagliolini, uncooked, on linen
Tagliolinitah-lyoh-LEE-nee
Tagliatelle with the diminutive -ini. Little cut ones. Taglierini in some regions, tajarin in Piedmont.
Tajarin, uncooked, on linen
Tajarintah-yah-REEN
Piedmontese dialect for tagliolini.
Testaroli, uncooked, on linen
Testarolites-tah-ROH-lee
From testo, the cast-iron griddle they are cooked on.
Tonnarelli, uncooked, on linen
Tonnarelliton-nah-REL-lee
Roman name for spaghetti alla chitarra. Chitarra is the guitar-like frame of strings that cuts the sheet.
Tortelli, uncooked, on linen
Tortellitor-TEL-lee
From torta, a cake or pie, with the diminutive -ello. A little pie.
Tortellini, uncooked, on linen
Tortellinitor-tel-LEE-nee
Little tortelli. Legend says the shape copies the navel of Venus, glimpsed through a keyhole by an innkeeper in Castelfranco Emilia.
Tortelloni, uncooked, on linen
Tortellonitor-tel-LOH-nee
Tortelli with the augmentative -oni. Big tortelli.
Tortiglioni, uncooked, on linen
Tortiglionitor-tee-LYOH-nee
From tortiglione, a twist or spiral, from torcere, to twist.
Treccioni, uncooked, on linen
Treccioni
An augmentative of treccia, the Italian word for a braid. Treccioni are big braids.
Trenette, uncooked, on linen
Trenettetreh-NET-teh
From the Genoese trena, a thin string or braid.
Trenne, uncooked, on linen
Trenne
A made-up brand name that joins triangular and penne. Rustichella d'Abruzzo owns the word.
Tripoline, uncooked, on linen
Tripoline
Named for Tripoli after Italy took Libya in the 1911 to 1912 war. Colonial names were fashionable for pasta then.
Troccoli, uncooked, on linen
TroccoliTROK-koh-lee
From the troccolo or troccolaturo, a grooved wooden rolling pin that cuts the sheet into strands.
Trofie, uncooked, on linen
TrofieTROH-fyeh
From the Genoese strufuggiâ, to rub, for the rolling motion.
Trottole, uncooked, on linen
TrottoleTROT-toh-leh
Spinning tops.
Tubetti, uncooked, on linen
Tubettitoo-BET-tee
Little tubes. Tubettini are smaller.
Tuffoli, uncooked, on linen
Tuffoli
A spelling of tufoli, from the southern dialect word tufolo, a tube, itself from Latin tubulus. See tufoli.
Tufoli, uncooked, on linen
Tufoli
Plural of tufolo, a southern Italian dialect word for a tube. It is a changed form of Latin tubulus, a small tube.
tumbarella, uncooked, on linen
tumbarella
A Stintino newspaper reports the name comes from the tumbarella, the cart on which the ravioli were fried.

V

Vermicelli, uncooked, on linen
Vermicelliver-mee-CHEL-lee
From verme, worm, with the diminutive -icelli. Little worms. The name is older than spaghetti.
Vesuvio, uncooked, on linen
Vesuvioveh-ZOO-vee-oh
Named for Vesuvius, the volcano above Naples.

Z

Ziti, uncooked, on linen
ZitiZEE-tee
From zita, Neapolitan for bride. The long tubes were broken by hand for wedding feasts.