gnocchi

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gnocchi, dumplings, lumps, knots, fools
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/ˈɲɔk.ki/
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Small Italian dumplings made in many regional forms, with extended meanings for lumps and foolish or awkward people.
Practice using gnocchi in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Non fate gli gnocchi, la risposta è evidente.
    Do not act like idiots, the answer is obvious.
  • Quei due gnocchi non hanno capito la battuta.
    Those two fools did not understand the joke.
  • Mescola bene per sciogliere gli gnocchi nella crema.
    Stir well to break up the lumps in the cream.
  • Questi gnocchi di ricotta sono molto delicati.
    These ricotta gnocchi are very delicate.
  • La colla si è riempita di gnocchi.
    The glue became full of lumps.

Similar words

gnocchetti
sempliciotti
sciocchi
goffi
nodi
grumi

Meanings

Small dough dumplings

noun
food
neutral
Small pieces of dough made with potato, flour, semolina, ricotta, or other ingredients, cooked in water or baked and usually served as a first course.

Examples

  • La nonna prepara gli gnocchi ogni giovedì.
    Grandmother makes gnocchi every Thursday.
  • Gli gnocchi di patate sono conditi con burro e salvia.
    The potato gnocchi are dressed with butter and sage.
  • Ho ordinato gli gnocchi al pomodoro.
    I ordered gnocchi with tomato sauce.
  • Gli gnocchi alla romana si cuociono al forno.
    Roman-style gnocchi are baked in the oven.
  • Questi gnocchi di ricotta sono molto delicati.
    These ricotta gnocchi are very delicate.
  • Aspetta che gli gnocchi salgano a galla.
    Wait for the gnocchi to rise to the surface.

Similar words

gnocchetti

Lumps in a mixture

noun
materials
neutral
Small knots or lumps that form in dough, glue, porridge, cream, or a similar substance.

Examples

  • La colla si è riempita di gnocchi.
    The glue became full of lumps.
  • Mescola bene per sciogliere gli gnocchi nella crema.
    Stir well to break up the lumps in the cream.
  • Nell'impasto erano rimasti alcuni gnocchi di farina.
    A few flour lumps remained in the dough.
  • La farinata aveva grossi gnocchi duri.
    The porridge had large hard lumps.
  • Con la frusta sparirono tutti gli gnocchi.
    All the lumps disappeared with whisking.

Similar words

grumi
nodi

Foolish or awkward people

noun
insults
informal
People regarded as stupid, clumsy, naïve, or slow to understand.

Examples

  • Quei due gnocchi non hanno capito la battuta.
    Those two fools did not understand the joke.
  • Restavano lì come gnocchi, senza sapere cosa fare.
    They stood there like dunces, not knowing what to do.
  • Non fate gli gnocchi, la risposta è evidente.
    Do not act like idiots, the answer is obvious.
  • Sembravano degli gnocchi davanti alla telecamera.
    They looked like awkward fools in front of the camera.
  • Li ha chiamati gnocchi per la loro goffaggine.
    She called them dunces because of their clumsiness.

Similar words

sciocchi
goffi
sempliciotti

Etymology

Plural of gnocco, from Venetian gnòco, meaning a bump or dumpling, perhaps from Lombardic knohhil, meaning a knot in wood.

FAQ

What does gnocchi mean in Italian?

It most commonly means small Italian dumplings made from potato, flour, semolina, ricotta, or other ingredients.

What is the singular of gnocchi?

The singular is gnocco, although the dish is normally discussed in the plural.

Is it i gnocchi or gli gnocchi?

The standard Italian form is gli gnocchi because nouns beginning with the sound written gn take lo or gli.

Are all gnocchi made from potatoes?

No. Italian regional traditions also include versions based on semolina, flour, ricotta, pumpkin, spinach, and other ingredients.

How is gnocchi pronounced in Italian?

It is pronounced /ˈɲɔk.ki/, approximately “NYAWK-kee,” with stress on the first syllable.

Does gnocchi have figurative meanings?

Yes. It can refer to lumps in a mixture or, informally, to people considered foolish, naïve, or clumsy.

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