What does linguini mean?
Linguine is a long, flat, ribbon-shaped pasta whose name comes from the Italian for “little tongues.” It belongs to the same broad family as spaghetti and other pasta shapes, but it differs from spaghetti in being wider and flatter. Its relatively broad surface catches sauces effectively, making linguine especially common with pesto, seafood, tomato-based sauces, and other dressings that might otherwise slip away from narrower strands. In English, the word is usually treated as both singular and plural: a singular serving may be called “a plate of linguini,” while “several plates of linguini” uses the same form for the plural. Although Italian distinguishes the singular “linguine” from the plural “linguini,” both forms circulate in English usage. Linguine is therefore a familiar and versatile word, especially useful for describing one of the most recognizable shapes in Italian cooking.
nounAn Italian-style pasta consisting of long, narrow, flat ribbons of dough. Linguine is similar to spaghetti but is typically wider and flatter, and it pairs especially well with sauces that cling to its surface.
- A type of Italian pasta made in long, narrow, flat strips, similar to but generally wider and flatter than spaghetti.
"She served linguine with pesto, fresh basil, and shaved Parmesan."
"We ordered linguine with seafood and a small salad."
"The linguine was coated in a rich tomato and basil sauce."
The same form is normally used for both singular and plural in English, although “linguine” is also recognized as a singular form.
"There were two plates of linguine on the table."
Linguine literally means “little tongues,” a fitting name for pasta whose narrow shape resembles a tongue.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of linguini
The word comes from Italian, in which linguine is the plural of linguina, a diminutive of lingua, meaning “tongue.” Italian lingua derives from Latin lingua, the same Latin source behind English “tongue” and “language.” The pasta’s long, narrow shape prompted the descriptive name “little tongues,” which was later adopted into English as “linguini.”
Related word forms
How linguini is actually used
In English, “linguini” is commonly used as both the singular and plural form of the noun. The singular form “linguine” is also recognized, especially when referring to the pasta in general or in menus.