Pasta-shapes

Pasta comes in all shapes and sizes. The tiniest shapes are often used in soups, long ribbons or strands with sauces, and tubes and fanciful shapes in casseroles and pasta salads. Some shapes are large enough to be stuffed and baked, and others, like ravioli, come already stuffed.

Pasta normally is white-yellow, but other colors exist. See here for the other pasta colours. Below an overview of the most common pasta types and their synonyms.

Name	Image	Synonym(s)	Description
Alfabeto			Letter-shaped soup pasta
Anchellini		Piombi	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Anelli Siciliani			Large size ring-shaped short-cut pasta, suitable for soups or salads
Armonie		Stortini	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Ballerine		Campanelle	Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups
Bigoli		Bigui, Pincinelli	Large diameter (about 3 mm) and very long-cut spaghetti, made with wholemeal soft wheat flour or semolina.
Bucatini		Perciatellini, Foratini, Fidelini bucati, Fide bucate	Small diameter (about 2.4 - 2.7 mm) and smooth surface long-cut dry hollow pasta.
Cannelloni		Gnocchettoni Zitoni, Tagliati di Zitoni, Cannelloni Zitoni, Canneroni, Spole, Sigarette, Schiaffoni	Short-cut shape, suitable for vegetable sauce pasta or casserolas
Cannolicchi medi		Sciviotti ziti, Denti di cavallo, Denti di pecora, Fischiotti, Fischioni, Canneroni	Hollow short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or vegetable soups
Capelli d'angelo		Angel's hair, Cabellos de Angel, Capelvenere, Fidelini, Fedelini, Cappellini, Sopracappellini, Capellini fini, Bassetti, Tagliolini a nido, Barbine a nido	Very thin long-cut extruded pasta (ų mm 1 - 1.2), usually nested or coiled, suitable for clear soups. Very popular shape all over the world.
Cappelletti			Medium size, pinched stuffed fresh pasta, filled with vegetables, cheese, ricotta or meat based filling
Cappelletti Umbri			Typical for the Umbria region
Cappello napoletano			Short cut pasta suitable for casseroles or salads
Casarecci		Cesariccia	These are short lengths of rolled and twisted Italian pasta. They're usually served with meat sauces.
Cavatelli			It usually refers to small pasta shells that resemble tiny hot dog buns. The name is less commonly used for a type of dumpling made with ricotta cheese.
Chiocciole			Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups
Ciocchetti			Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups
Cocciolette		Abissini	Small shell-shaped pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Conchigliette		Tofettine, Coccioline, Cinesini, Margaritine, Cinesi rigati, Mezzi cocci, Margherite rigate, Cappettine	Extruded short-cut shape, suitable for soups or meat sauce pasta
Conchiglioni		Jumbo Shells	Large size short-cut grooved pasta
Coquillettes			Short-cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pasta
Creste di galli			Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups. Shaped like creste di galli ("cockscomb" in Italian).
Dischi		Messicani, Dischi Volanti	Short cut pasta suitable for casseroles or salads
Fagiolini rigati		Cornetti rigati, Sedanetti rigati, Sedanini rigati, Stortini rigati, Diavoletti rigati, Tubetti lunghi rigati
Farfalle		Galla genovese, Fiocconi; Farfalloni	Stamped " Bologna " shape, suitable for casseroles or meat sauce pasta
Fettuccelle ricce		Nastrini, Reginette, Reginelle, Fettucce ricce	Curled fettuccine (width about 12 mm).
Fettuccine		Lasagnette, Fettucce	Long-cut pasta with rectangular section (about 0.8 x 8 mm), fresh or dry.
Francesine		Stricchetti tondi, Saliere, Farfalle tonde, Fiocchetti	Extruded short-cut shape, suitable for soups or meat sauce pasta
Fusilli		Eliche, Tortiglioni, Spirali	Spiral shape short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Fusilloni		Eliche grandi	Spiral shape short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Gemelli			Spiral shape short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Gianduietta		Gianduini	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Gigli		Cornetti, Corni di bue	Short cut pasta suitable for casseroles or salads
Gramigna		Crestine, Margherite lisce, Fagioletti, Zitellini, Tubettini lunghi	Short-cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pasta
Gramignoni		Spaccatelle, Maglietta, Stivalettini	Short-cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pasta
Grano		Brofandei	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Grattoni			Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Italiana			Pierced short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable and clear soups
Lasagne		Lasagnoni, Bardele	Long-cut pasta with rectangular section (about 0.6 x 25 mm), fresh or dry.
Linguine		Bavettine, Bavette fini, Radichini, Linguettine	Small size and elliptic section long-cut pasta.
Lumachine		Lumachelle, Lumachette, Cirillini	Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups
Maccheroni		Macaroni	Hollow elbow-shaped pasta
Mafalde		Frese, Tagliatelle nervate	Rectangular size double side-curled long-cut pasta (width about mm 10).
Malloreddus		Gnocchetti sardi	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups. From Sardinia .
Maltagliati		Strengozze	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Margherita Messinese lunga			Middle-lenght cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pa
Merletti			Short-cut pasta, suitable for soups or salads
Messinesi			Short-cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pasta
Mezzani		Perciatelloni, Mezze Zite, Regine, Scaloppi, Napoletani	Large diameter (about 5 - 6 mm) and smooth surface long-cut dry hollow pasta
Mostaccioli		Mezze Penne, Mezze Penne zite, Penne di ziti, Ziti tagliati	Slanting short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles, soups or salads
Mparrettati			This unusual variety of Italian pasta consists of poorly wrapped straws of dough, about 20-30 cm long.
Nuvole			Short cut pasta suitable for soups or salads
Occhi di Passero		Occhi di Pernice, Occhio d'acquila, Occhi di Trota	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Ondule			Curled short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Orecchiette			Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups. Shaped like ears.
Orzo		Puntine, Punte d'ago, Armelline, Semi d'orzo, Semi d'avena, Semi di riso, Occhi di giudeo, Armellette, Puntalette, Semi di cicoria, Cicorietta, Risetto, Chicchi di riso, Semini, Avena, Avena grande, Cicorie	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Pantacce			Short cut pasta suitable for soups or salads
Pappardelle		Papparelle	Long-cut pasta with rectangular section (about 0.8 x 20 mm), fresh or dry
Paternoster		Gnocchetti, Gnocchettini, Tubettini, Ditaletti, Coralli, Ditalini, Avemarie, Caporelli	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Pennine (Penne)		Mezze pennette lisce, Mezze penne, Mezzani, Pennettine, Pennuzze, Penne Regina	Slanting short-cut hollow shape, suitable for vegetable sauce pasta
Pennoni		Penne di Zitoni, Zitoni tagliati, Penna a candela	Large size short-cut hollow pasta
Perciatelli		Maccheroncelli, Maccheronicini, Mezzanelli, Long Macaroni	Medium diameter (about 4 mm) and smooth surface long-cut pierced dry pasta.
Pizzoccheri			These long buckwheat noodles are popular in northern Italy
Quadrefiore			Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups.
Quadrettini		Quadrucci, Quadratini, Quadretti, Lucciole	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Quadrucci rigati		Quadratini rigati, Quadretti rigati	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Radiatori		Marziani	Short-cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pasta
Ravioli			Different size and shape fresh pasta, stuffed with vegetables, ricotta, cheese, meat and even fish based filling.
Ricciarelle		Riccioline, Sfresatine, Manfredine, Fettuccia riccia	Double size curled large tagliatella (width about 15 mm).
Rigatoni			Long hollow tube shaped pasta
Rocchetti		Salamini, Caramelle	Short cut pasta suitable for casseroles or salads
Ruotine		Rotelle, Rotelline, Rotine, Rotini	Wheel-shaped, short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Sagnarelli			This flat Italian pasta is about 5 cm long, and has a ridged border.
Sciviottini		Cannolicchi piccoli, Fagioloni, Svuotini, Gnocchetti di Ziti, Canoncetti, Svoltini	Hollow short-cut pasta, suitable for soups or casseroles
Semi di Melone		Semi di mela, Midolline, Semoni, Risone	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Spaghetti		Vermicelli, Fide, Ristoranti, Vermicelloni, Filatelli, Vermicelloni giganti, Spaghettoni	Medium diameter (1.8 - 2.4 mm) long-cut dry pasta (broken for Vermicelli).
Spighe			Tree-shaped short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Stellette		Stellettine, Stelle, Astri, Fiori di Sambuco	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Strozzapreti			The name means "priest strangler" in Italian, and it refers to a pasta shape that resembles a rolled towel.
Tagliatelle		Tagliarelli, Reginelle, Fresine, Nastri, Fettuccelle, Fettucce romane, Fiadi	Long-cut pasta with rectangular section (about 0.8 x 10 mm), fresh or dry.
Tagliati di Ziti		Cannelli Ziti, Gnocchetti Ziti, Spolette	Short-cut shape, suitable for vegetable sauce pasta
Tagliolini		Fidelini a nido, Tagliatelline, Trinette a matasse	Long-cut pasta with rectangular section (about 0.8 x 3 mm), fresh or dry.
Tempesta		Seme Santo, Tempestina, Grattata, Peperino, Pepe, Fregolina, Peperini di Genova, Vaporino, Piselli, Pisellini, Grandinina soda, Grattini, Primaverine, Scintille	Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Torchio			These pasta shapes resemble torches, the better to scoop up chunky sauces.
Tortelli		Tordelli	Medium or large size, rectangular or square stuffed fresh pasta, filled with vegetables, ricotta, cheese or meat based filling
Tortellini			Very small size fresh or even dry pasta, stuffed with meat based special filling, by tradition only suitable for meat broth or casserole
Trenne			Hollow tubes, flattened on one side.
Trennette			Same as Trenne, but smaller.
Tripolini		Signorine	One side curled long-cut pasta (width about 10 mm).
Troffiette			Small, twisted pasta.
Trottole			Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups
Tufoli		Maniche, Gigantoni, Occhi di elefante, Elefante, Canneroni grandi, Occhi di bove	Very large diameter short-cut and smooth surface hollow pasta, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pasta and for casseroles
Ziti		Boccolotti, Zitoni, Zituane, Candele	Very large diameter long-cut and smooth surface hollow pasta.

Synonyms:

Abissini	Fagioloni	Messicani	Saliere
Angel's hair	Farfalle tonde	Mezzanelli	Scaloppi
Armellette	Farfalloni	Mezzani	Schiaffoni
Armelline	Fedelini	Mezze	Scintille
Astri	Fettucce	Mezze penne	Sciviotti ziti
Avemarie	Fettucce ricce	Mezze pennette lisce	Sedanetti rigati
Avena	Fettucce romane	Mezzi cocci	Sedanini rigati
Avena grande	Fettuccelle	Midolline	Seme Santo
Barbine a nido	Fettuccia riccia	Napoletani	Semi d'avena
Bardele	Fiadi	Nastri	Semi di cicoria
Bassetti	Fide	Nastrini	Semi di mela
Bavette fini	Fide bucate	Occhi di bove	Semi di riso
Bavettine	Fidelini	Occhi di elefante	Semi d'orzo
Bigui	Fidelini a nido	Occhi di giudeo	Semini
Boccolotti	Fidelini bucati	Occhi di Pernice	Semoni
Brofandei	Filatelli	Occhi di Trota	Sfresatine
Cabellos de Angel	Fiocchetti	Occhio d'acquila	Sigarette
Campanelle	Fiocconi	Papparelle	Signorine
Candele	Fiori di Sambuco	Penna a candela	Sopracappellini
Cannelli Ziti	Fischioni	Penne di Zitoni	Spaccatelle
Cannelloni Zitoni	Fischiotti	Penne Regina	Spaghettoni
Canneroni	Foratini	Pennettine	Spirali
Canneroni	Fregolina	Pennuzze	Spole
Canneroni grandi	Frese	Pepe	Spolette
Cannolicchi piccoli	Fresine	Peperini di Genova	Stelle
Canoncetti	Galla genovese	Peperino	Stellettine
Capellini fini	Gianduini	Perciatellini	Stivalettini
Capelvenere	Gigantoni	Perciatelloni	Stortini
Caporelli	Gnocchetti	Pincinelli	Stortini rigat
Cappellini	Gnocchetti di Ziti	Piombi	Strengozze
Cappettine	Gnocchetti sardi	Piselli	Stricchetti tondi
Caramelle	Gnocchetti Ziti	Pisellini	Svoltini
Cesariccia	Gnocchettini	Primaverine	Svuotini
Chicchi di riso	Gnocchettoni Zitoni	Puntalette	Tagliarelli
Cicorie	Grandinina soda	Punte d'ago	Tagliatelle nervate
Cicorietta	Grattata	Puntine	Tagliatelline
Cinesi rigati	Grattini	Quadratini	Tagliati di Zitoni
Cinesini	Jumbo Shells	Quadratini rigati	Tagliolini a nido
Cirillini	Lasagnette	Quadretti	Tempestina
Coccioline	Lasagnoni	Quadretti rigati	Tofettine
Coralli	Linguettine	Quadrucci	Tordelli
Cornetti	Long Macaroni	Radichini	Tortiglioni
Cornetti rigati	Lucciole	Regine	Trinette a matasse
Corni di bue	Lumachelle	Reginelle	Tubetti lunghi rigati
Crestine	Lumachette	Reginelle	Tubettini
Denti di cavallo	Macaroni	Reginette	Tubettini lunghi
Denti di pecora	Maccheroncelli	Riccioline	Vaporino
Diavoletti rigati	Maccheronicini	Risetto	Vermicelli
Dischi Volanti	Maglietta	Risone	Vermicelloni giganti
Ditaletti	Manfredine	Ristoranti	Zitellini
Ditalini	Maniche	Rotelle	Zitoni
Elefante	Margaritine	Rotelline	Zitoni tagliati
Eliche	Margherite lisce	Rotine	Zituane
Eliche grandi	Margherite rigate	Rotini
Fagioletti	Marziani	Salamini