vongola
/ˈvon.ɡo.la/feminine
The English word clam can be translated into Italian as vongola. Wiktionary also lists tellina and arsella.
Meaning: mollusc (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vongola | /ˈvon.ɡo.la/ | feminine |
| tellina | feminine | |
| arsella | /arˈsɛl.la/ | feminine |
In a culinary context, you might encounter the term pasta alle vongole, which refers to the classic Italian dish pasta with clams.
Which one should you use?
vongola is the most common and general term for clams or various types of edible bivalve molluscs used in cooking. In contrast, tellina refers specifically to smaller, thinner-shelled clams, often used in Mediterranean cuisine, while arsella is used for smaller, specific types of bivalves like cockles, often distinguished from the larger vongola.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of vongola is vongole.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈvon.ɡo.la/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word arsella comes from the Latin word for 'small box', treating the clam shell as a tiny container.
- In Italy, vongole are not just food but are historically tied to the 'cucina povera' or 'poor kitchen' of coastal regions.
- While vongola is the general term, Italians use tellina for a specific tiny clam that is often considered a delicacy in the Campania region.
Examples in context
- Il ristorante offre un delizioso piatto di linguine alle vongole.The restaurant offers a delicious dish of linguine with clams.
- Le vongole fresche sono un ingrediente essenziale nella cucina italiana.Fresh clams are an essential ingredient in Italian cuisine.
- Che buone sono le mazzancolle preparate dalla nonna!How delicious are the clams prepared by grandma!
- La vongola è fresca.The clam is fresh.
- Vorrei una vongola gigante.I would like a giant clam.
- Questa vongola è molto piccola.This clam is very small.
Example conversation
Giulia and Matteo are looking at a seafood menu.
- GiuliaGuarda, c'è un piatto di vongola.Look, there is a clam dish.
- MatteoOttimo, mi piace molto la vongola.Great, I really like clam.
- GiuliaOrdiniamo questo piatto per entrambi?Shall we order this dish for both of us?
- MatteoSì, Giulia, ordiniamolo!Yes, Giulia, let's order it!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clam” translations and entries vongola, tellina, arsella, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arsella, tellina, vongola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
