Why Do Greeks Call It “Spaghetti” While the Rest of the World Says “Pasta”?

Pasta. Just the word alone evokes images of Italian trattorias, hearty family dinners, and golden strands of spaghetti twirling around a fork. Across the globe, pasta is the go-to term for Italy’s most iconic culinary export — a blanket name that includes everything from penne and fusilli to lasagna and ravioli.

But walk into any Greek kitchen and you’ll hear something quite different.

In Greece, it’s not uncommon to hear all long noodles — from linguine to tagliatelle — referred to simply as spaghetti (σπαγγέτι). Not pasta, not makaronia, not linguine. Just spaghetti.

Why?
What makes Greece different?
And how does this relate to the ancient, tangled history of pasta itself?

The Global Word Is “Pasta” — But Its Roots Are Greek

The word pasta is universally recognized today, thanks to Italian culinary dominance. But few know that pasta has Greek origins.

• The modern Italian word pasta comes from the Latin “pasta”, meaning a mixture or dough.
• Latin, in turn, borrowed this from the ancient Greek word “πάστα” (pasta) — meaning barley porridge or a thick mash, often made with cereal grains and water.

So even before pasta became synonymous with Italy, the concept — and the word — were rooted in ancient Greece.

Ancient Pasta? Greeks and Romans Were Already Cooking It

The culinary lineage of pasta stretches so far back that its origins are almost mythical. But historical records give us some clues.

Itrion and Laganon: The Ancient Greek Pasta Ancestors

By 150 AD, references to two early pasta forms appear in both Greek and Roman texts:

• Itrion (ἴτριον): A form of dried dough, possibly similar to vermicelli or early noodles. This term was widely used in the Byzantine Empire and may have originated from ancient Greek cuisine.
• Laganon (λάγανον): Broad, flat sheets of dough — the ancestor of today’s lasagna. The word appears in works by the Roman poet Horace and even Cicero.

These early dishes weren’t just experimental food fads. They were staples, made with wheat flour, water, and sometimes egg, dried in the sun or cooked fresh.

In fact, the idea of drying dough before boiling it — a defining feature of pasta — was practiced long before Italy’s pasta production hubs rose in Sicily and Naples.

Why Greeks Say “Spaghetti” Instead of “Pasta”

So why, despite this deep connection to pasta’s roots, do modern Greeks use the Italian word “spaghetti” (σπαγγέτι) almost exclusively — and often incorrectly — to refer to all long pasta?

A Linguistic Shortcut — and a Cultural Quirk

• In Greece, “spaghetti” became a catch-all term for long noodles. Whether it’s linguine, bucatini, or spaghettoni, it’s all just σπαγγέτι.
• Meanwhile, “pasta” (πάστα) in Greek modern slang often refers to pastries or desserts, such as pasta flora or chocolate pasta. So the word took on a different culinary life.
• The Italian influence — especially post-WWII with food imports and international recipes — likely popularized spaghetti as the default term for all noodle dishes in Greece.

A Myth of Greek Origin for the Word “Spaghetti”?

Some folk etymologies claim that the word “spaghetti” derives from ancient Greek funeral meals, where a dish similar to today’s makarounes (Cretan hand-rolled pasta) was served — thus connecting “spaghetti” to the Greek word makaria (μακαρία), a meal given after funerals.

While linguistically interesting, this claim isn’t widely supported by scholars. The accepted origin is Italian:

Spaghetti comes from Italian spago (string, twine) + diminutive -etti, meaning “little strings.”

Still, the idea that Greek tradition influenced the culture of commemorative meals with pasta-like dishes is very real — even if the name spaghetti is not Greek.

What Does “Macaroni” Mean in Greek and Italian?

Another twist in the pasta-naming saga: macaroni.

• In Italian, maccheroni refers to short, tubular pasta — specifically those with a hole in the center.
• In Greek, makaronia (μακαρόνια) is used much more broadly, often as a synonym for pasta or spaghetti dishes.

Interestingly, the Greek root makaria (blessed) once again emerges here, hinting at the deep ceremonial and spiritual connections to food in ancient Greek society.

Final Thoughts: Who Really Invented Pasta?

So who “owns” pasta?

• China has ancient noodle artifacts dating back 4,000 years.
• The Arabs helped spread dried pasta to Sicily during their rule in the 9th century.
• The Italians undoubtedly perfected it — creating the diverse pasta culture we know today.
• But the Greeks named it, documented it, and most likely ate early versions of it centuries before pasta had its moment in the Roman Empire.

A Greek Dish in Italian Clothing?

Today, the world may say pasta, but in Greece, it’s often still just spaghetti. This isn’t wrong — it’s simply a reflection of Greece’s unique blend of historical influence, language evolution, and culinary heritage.

So the next time you twirl those golden noodles on your fork, remember:
You might be eating an Italian classic, but you’re also tasting a Greek legacy.