spaghetti con le polpette
The English phrase "spaghetti and meatballs" is translated into Italian as spaghetti con le polpette.
This phrase describes a pasta dish consisting of spaghetti noodles served with meatballs.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, spaghetti con le polpette translates to "spaghetti with the meatballs", as the preposition con (with) is used instead of "and" to describe the dish.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word polpette is the plural form of polpetta (meatball).
When do people say it?
While spaghetti con le polpette is the direct translation, the specific combination of spaghetti served with large meatballs is more characteristic of Italian-American cuisine than traditional Italian home cooking.
Did you know?
- If you order spaghetti con le polpette in a traditional Italian restaurant, the waiter might look at you in confusion. In Italy, meatballs are typically served as a separate course called polpette rather than being placed directly on top of long pasta noodles.
- The word spaghetti is actually a diminutive of the word spago, which means 'string' or 'cord'. It literally describes the pasta as being shaped like 'little strings'.
- The Italian word polpette comes from polpa, meaning 'pulp' or 'flesh'.
Examples in context
- Vorrei un piatto di spaghetti e polpette, per favore.I would like a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, please.
- Ho preparato degli spaghetti e polpettine.I made some spaghetti and little meatballs.
- Vorrei degli spaghetti con le polpette, per favore.I would like some spaghetti and meatballs, please.
- Hai preparato gli spaghetti con le polpette?Did you make the spaghetti and meatballs?
- Gli spaghetti con le polpette sono molto buoni.The spaghetti and meatballs are very good.
Example conversation
Alessandro and Chiara are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- AlessandroChiara, cosa vuoi mangiare stasera?Chiara, what do you want to eat tonight?
- ChiaraHo molta voglia di spaghetti con le polpette.I really feel like having spaghetti and meatballs.
- AlessandroOttima idea, li preparo io!Great idea, I'll prepare them!
- ChiaraGrazie, Alessandro, sei molto gentile.Thanks, Alessandro, you are very kind.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries con, le, spaghetti, CC BY-SA 4.0.
