How to Pronounce Spaghetti
How do you say spaghetti?
spuh-GET-ee
- IPA (US)
- /spəˈɡɛti/
- IPA (UK)
- /spəˈɡɛti/
spuh·get·ee
3 syllables, stress on the second.
Is it spuh-JET-ee or spuh-GET-ee?
- ✗ Not standard spuh-JET-ee: The H after the G keeps it hard, as in 'get'. In Italian, 'gh' always means a hard G.
- ✗ Not standard pa-SGET-ee: Swapping the S and P, as young children often do ('pasghetti'). The word starts with 'sp'.
Spaghetti pronunciation in British vs American English
American English: spuh-GEDD-ee: the T between vowels is usually a quick, soft D sound.
British English: spuh-GET-ee, with a crisper T.
What does spaghetti mean?
Long, thin, solid strands of pasta, usually made from durum wheat.
Where does spaghetti come from?
Italian, the plural of spaghetto, a diminutive of spago, 'string' or 'twine', so spaghetti means 'little strings'. In Italian the first vowel is a full 'ah' and the double T is held slightly longer: spah-GET-tee. English reduces it to spuh-GET-ee.
Spaghetti in a sentence
- We made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.
- Twirl the spaghetti around your fork.
- Cook the spaghetti until it is al dente.