carbonara
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of carbonara
1960–65; < dialectal Italian ( alla ) carbonara literally, in the manner of the charcoal pit (compare Late Latin carbonaria brazier; see Carbonari); perhaps in reference to the use of leftover grilled meat in the sauce
Explanation
Carbonara is an Italian specialty that's made by stirring eggs, cheese, and cured pork into hot pasta, creating a rich, creamy dish. While some modern variations outside of Italy contain cream, traditional versions of carbonara never contain butter or cream. The dish's silky creaminess instead comes from the method of quickly combining eggs and cheese with freshly cooked, hot pasta. Carbonara originated in the Lazio region of Italy, probably in the early 20th century, and it's often categorized as a Roman dish. Experts have many theories about the etymology of carbonara, one of which claims it was the favorite food of Italian charcoal workers, or carbonai.
Vocabulary lists containing carbonara
World Cuisine - Introductory
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World Cuisine - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s a vegan restaurant and I’ve had meat-eating friends say that their carbonara is their favorite.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2026
Italians often get angry when foreigners tinker with their food recipes - pizza with pineapple, cappuccino after midday or carbonara with cream, for example.
From BBC • Aug. 7, 2025
He also mentioned that he plans to sell his own carbonara sauce, made from fresh and whole ingredients, in Italian supermarkets soon.
From Salon • Sep. 5, 2024
Typical dishes include tortellini in broth from the northern Emilia region, spaghetti alla carbonara from central regions around Rome, and pasta alla Norma in Sicily.
From Reuters • Nov. 25, 2023
After eating nothing but sandwiches and granola bars for two days, Ivy’s mouth watered just thinking about Mr. Bishop’s spinach-and-cheese omelets and homemade chicken carbonara pasta.
From "Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World" by Ashley Herring Blake
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
