carbonara

noun

car·​bo·​nara ˌkär-bə-ˈnär-ə How to pronounce carbonara (audio)
: a dish of hot pasta into which other ingredients (such as eggs, bacon or ham, and grated cheese) have been mixed
—often used as a postpositive modifier
spaghetti carbonara

Examples of carbonara in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Spaghetti is the traditional choice for this velvety sauce, but feel free to go alla carbonara with other noodles. — Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 21 Apr. 2026 A little sprinkle of quality salt can brighten just about anything, from carbonara to chocolate chip cookies. — Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 5 May 2026 More Italian-style dishes include linguine carbonara, pasta primavera, and seafood ravioli. — Jenna Thompson june 16, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026 Spring Pea Carbonara Traditional carbonara has no cream or milk but instead gets its creaminess from eggs and Parmesan blended into a silky sauce when tossed with al dente noodles. — Deputy Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for carbonara

Word History

Etymology

Italian dialect (alla) carbonara, literally, in the manner of a charcoal maker

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carbonara was in 1962

Rhymes for carbonara

See All Rhymes for carbonara

Browse Nearby Words

carbonado
carbonara
carbon arc
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Carbonara.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carbonara. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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