ravioli

American  

[rav-ee-oh-lee, rah-vee-, rah-vyaw-lee] / ˌræv iˈoʊ li, ˌrɑ vi-, rɑˈvyɔ li /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. small cases of pasta, often square, stuffed with a filling, usually of meat or cheese, and often served with a tomato sauce.

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ravioli British  

/ ˌrævɪˈəʊlɪ /

noun

1. small squares of pasta containing a savoury mixture of meat, cheese, etc

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Usage

See zucchini.

Etymology

Origin of ravioli

First recorded in 1835–45; from Italian, plural of dialectal raviolo “little turnip,” diminutive of rava, from Latin rāpa; rape ²

Compare meaning

How does ravioli compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• tortellini vs. ravioli

Example Sentences

At Giorgio Baldi, I like the ravioli that has corn in it, which is what they’re famous for.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

This year, the New Year’s Eve tasting menu, which starts at $925 a person and features tuna tartare, foie gras terrine and ravioli, will be served across fewer courses than last year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 13, 2025

It was while preparing homemade ravioli, using a wine glass to stamp out the dough, that Scheffler cut his hand on Christmas Day.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2025

The Money crew discusses the DEA’s softer cannabis rules, Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s prison sentence, and why ravioli costs so much.

From Slate • May 4, 2024

We ate in silence, for Mrs. Van Hopper liked to concentrate on food, and I could tell by the way the sauce ran down her chin that her dish of ravioli pleased her.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Related Words

• gnocchi
• linguine
• macaroni
• spaghetti
• tortellini