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Definition of carbonara

carbonara

/ˌkɑːrbəˈnɑːrə/
car · bo · na · ra
Plural:carbonaras
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carbonara Lexical Profile

carbonara Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A classic Italian pasta dish originally from Rome, prepared with eggs, hard cheese (typically Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano-Reggiano), cured pork (such as guanciale or pancetta), and a significant amount of black pepper.

Example

"For dinner, the chef prepared a rich and authentic spaghetti carbonara using traditional guanciale instead of standard bacon."

• Rhymes for carbonara

• Nearby Words

caramel
caravan
caraway
carbonara
carburetor
carcarana
card

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Italian 'carbonara', derived from 'carbone' (coal). The name translates to 'in the manner of coal miners', either because it was traditionally prepared as a hearty meal for Italian charcoal workers, or because the generous use of coarse black pepper resembles coal dust.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Carbonara. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/carbonara
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