ravioli
/ʁa.vjɔ.li/masculine
The English word 'dumpling' can be translated into French as ravioli or quenelle.
Meaning: food (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ravioli | /ʁa.vjɔ.li/ | masculine |
| quenelle | /kə.nɛl/ | feminine |
Which one should you use?
ravioli is used for pasta-based dumplings, whereas quenelle refers to a specific gastronomic dumpling made from a fine paste of meat or fish, such as pike or shrimp, mixed with cream.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Poitou-Charentes region, a ball-shaped dumpling that is often cooked in a sauce or broth is called a Pelotte.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun ravioli is commonly used in its plural form les raviolis when referring to a dish of multiple pasta dumplings.
How do you pronounce it?
ravioli is pronounced /ʁa.vjɔ.li/ and has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- French speakers use the term quenelle to describe any oval-shaped scoop of food, including ice cream or mashed potatoes, even if they are not dumplings.
- The word quenelle shares an etymological root with the German word Knödel. This links the refined French culinary term to a much broader category of central European dumplings.
- In a French kitchen, a chef might use a spoon to create the iconic oval shape of a quenelle. This specific technique is known as 'former une quenelle' and is a standard test of professional skill.
Examples in context
- Est-ce qu'il reste un ravioli ?Is there one ravioli left?
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are looking at a menu in a restaurant.
- LéaQu'est-ce que tu veux manger, Hugo ?What do you want to eat, Hugo?
- HugoJe pense que je vais prendre des ravioli.I think I will have some dumplings.
- LéaC'est un bon choix, j'en prends aussi.That's a good choice, I'll have some too.
- HugoParfait, on commande ensemble alors.Perfect, let's order together then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dumpling” translations and entries ravioli, quenelle, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quenelle, ravioli, CC BY-SA 4.0.
