spaghetti (English)

Where does "spaghetti" come from?

The English word 'spaghetti' was borrowed from Italian 'spaghetti'[1], which is the plural form of 'spaghetto'[1][2], a diminutive of 'spago' meaning 'cord, string, or twine'[1][2]. The Italian noun 'spago' traces back to Latin 'spagus' or 'spacus' meaning 'twine'[1][2][5][6]. This Latin term likely originated from Ancient Greek 'σφάκος' meaning 'apple sage'[1][6], which itself may derive from a Pre-Greek source[1][3].

Open questions

• The derivation of the Ancient Greek term from a Pre-Greek origin is considered unclear. [1] [3]

Full etymology tree

• spaghetti (English), 'A type of pasta made in the shape of long thin strings.'
  • borrowed spaghetti (Italian), 'plural of spaghetto'
    • derived spaghetto (Italian), 'strand of spaghetti'
      • derived spago (Italian), 'cord, string, twine'
        • derived spacus (Latin), 'twine'
          • derived σφάκος (sphákos) (Ancient Greek), 'apple sage (Salvia pomifera)'
      • suffix -etto (Italian), 'suffix used to form melioratives, diminutives, and hypocoristics'

Ancestors

• spaghetti (Italian)
• σφάκος (Ancient Greek)

Descendants and derived words

• cable spaghetti (English)
• flying spaghetti monster (English)
• Flying Spaghetti Monster (English)
• pasghetti (English)
• sketti (English)
• spag (English)
• spag bol (English)
• spaghetti and meatballs (English)
• spaghetti bender (English)
• spaghetti bolognaise (English)
• spaghetti bolognese (English)
• spaghetti bowl (English)

Sources

1. spaghetti (English) - Wiktionary
2. spaghetti (Italian) - Wiktionary
3. σφάκος (sphákos) (Ancient Greek) - Wiktionary
4. spaghetto (Italian) - Wiktionary
5. spago (Italian) - Wiktionary
6. spacus (Latin) - Wiktionary

Updated August 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris