linguine

American  

[ling-gwee-nee] / lɪŋˈgwi ni /

Or linguini

noun

Italian Cooking.

1. a type of pasta in long, slender, nearly flat strips that have a slight curvature along their length.

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linguine British  

/ lɪŋˈɡwiːnɪ /

noun

1. a kind of pasta in the shape of thin flat strands

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Etymology

Origin of linguine

First recorded in 1945–50; from Italian, plural of linguina, diminutive of lingua “tongue;” -ine ¹ ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does linguine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• linguine vs. spaghetti

Explanation

If you like spaghetti but prefer a slightly wider, flatter noodle, you might try ordering linguine the next time you're at an Italian restaurant. Linguine is a common kind of pasta, and it's more commonly spelled linguine than linguini. Either way you spell it, it's an Italian word that's the plural form of linguina, "little tongue." The ultimate root is the Latin lingua, or "tongue." While linguine doesn't resemble a human tongue, it does look a bit like a snake's long, flat tongue.

Example Sentences

Among the recipes: The author’s grandmother’s apple cake, her father’s linguine with clam sauce, barbecued deviled eggs and a diner-style burger.

From Washington Times • Jul. 25, 2023

Anthony Esposito, the owner of Via Sposito, an Italian restaurant in Old Bridge that serves spaghetti, linguine, penne, tortellini and gnocchi, said that he could only speculate about where the pasta might have come from.

From New York Times • May 4, 2023

Thin shapes like spaghetti and linguine, cooked on the highest setting, work nicely.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2023

As I leafed through the book, I could feel myself being pulled along by the slow-cooker mac and cheese, the buttermilk fried chicken thighs and the Louisiana shrimp linguine.

From Washington Post • Dec. 13, 2022

I leave the lobster alone and eat the linguine.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

Related Words

• gnocchi
• macaroni
• ravioli
• spaghetti
• tortellini