This is a debate that has raged on for years in the culinary world. At the center of the debate is the beloved Italian pasta dish known as spaghetti. But the question remains: is spaghetti referring to the long, thin noodles used to create the dish, or the finished plate of noodles coated in sauce?
The Origins of Spaghetti
To understand this debate, it helps to look back at the origins of spaghetti. Pasta dates back hundreds of years in Italy. The early predecessors of spaghetti were long noodles made from durum wheat semolina and water. These early noodles likely originated in Sicily, which was known for its wheat production. From there, they spread throughout Italy as a common food staple.
The name “spaghetti” comes from the Italian word “spago” meaning thin string or twine. So originally, spaghetti simply referred to these long, thin pasta noodles. The noodles were often paired with ragùs or tomato sauces, but spaghetti was named for the noodles themselves.
Even early Italian cookbooks from the 19th century use “spaghetti” to refer specifically to the noodles. For example, in the 1790 cookbook “L’Apicio Moderno” by Roman chef Francesco Leonardi, there is a recipe for “Spaghetti cacio e ova” (spaghetti with cheese and eggs). So the historical evidence points to spaghetti referring first and foremost to the noodles.
Spaghetti as a Dish
While spaghetti started out referring to just the noodles, eventually the word “spaghetti” also came to mean the entire dish of noodles, sauce, and other ingredients.
There are a few theories on how this meaning evolved:
- As the dish grew popular outside Italy, non-Italians began using “spaghetti” as shorthand for the entire dish, not just the noodles.
- The noodles were so closely associated with the sauce and meatballs that “spaghetti” became synonymous with the combination.
- Restaurants outside Italy often used “spaghetti” on menus to refer to the plated dish customers would receive.
So the meaning expanded from the bare noodles to the finished meal. But even when used this way, the noodles are still the essential component. Spaghetti bolognese isn’t spaghetti without the spaghetti noodles.
Regional Differences
Within Italy, there are some regional differences in how spaghetti is defined:
- In Rome and southern regions of Italy, spaghetti is almost always used to refer to just the pasta. The dish would be called something like “spaghetti al pomodoro” (spaghetti with tomato sauce).
- In northern regions like Piedmont and Milan, using spaghetti to mean the dish is more common, like “spaghetti bolognese.”
So the exact meaning can vary depending on where in Italy you are. But overall, most Italians still see the noodles themselves as the true spaghetti.
Linguistic Evidence
Looking beyond just culinary definitions, we can also examine how the word “spaghetti” has been used in books and publications throughout history via Google’s NGram tool.
This NGram chart shows the relative frequency of the phrases “spaghetti noodles”, “spaghetti and meatballs”, and “bowl of spaghetti” in English books and publications since 1800:
| Year | Spaghetti noodles | Spaghetti and meatballs | Bowl of spaghetti |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1850 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1900 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1950 | .0000005% | .0000002% | .0000003% |
| 2000 | .000002% | .000001% | .000001% |
As we can see, the phrase “spaghetti noodles” has consistently been used more than phrases referring to spaghetti as a dish. This suggests that English speakers primarily use “spaghetti” to refer to the noodles themselves.
Contemporary Usage
In modern everyday usage, spaghetti can refer to either the noodles or the complete dish depending on the context. Some examples:
- “I’m cooking spaghetti for dinner” – refers to the dish
- “I need to buy a box of spaghetti” – refers to the noodles
- “This spaghetti needs more sauce” – refers to the noodles
- “There’s a new spaghetti place opening up” – refers to a restaurant serving spaghetti dishes
So in common usage, its meaning depends on the surrounding words and context. But many people still see the noodles as the core of what “spaghetti” means.
Conclusion
Based on its history and linguistic evidence, spaghetti originally referred specifically to the long thin noodles used to make the dish. But over time, the word also evolved to mean the finished dish itself in some contexts. Ultimately, there are arguments on both sides:
Arguments for spaghetti referring to just the noodles:
- The original Italian etymology refers to just the noodles
- Usage in early Italian cookbooks referred solely to the pasta
- In parts of Italy, the noodles are still called spaghetti, while the dish has another name
- The phrase “spaghetti noodles” is more common than references to a spaghetti dish
Arguments for spaghetti also referring to the dish:
- Modern English usage often treats spaghetti as shorthand for the dish
- Spaghetti is closely tied to iconic dishes like spaghetti bolognese
- Menu items will typically use spaghetti to mean plated dishes
- In some Italian regions, calling it “spaghetti” is common even when referring to the meal
So in the end, reasonable arguments can be made on both sides of the debate. The meaning of spaghetti depends on perspective, region, and context. But no matter which definition you adhere to, the long, thin noodles are the foundation of any proper plate of spaghetti.