🥟 Dumpling Vocab
Dumpling names can describe the wrapper, filling, shape, or even the way they are cooked. Some are made with pasta dough, some are steamed buns, and others are simply balls of dough or starch with no wrapper or fold at all. A few names describe a cooking style rather than one specific recipe. The names below cover the dumplings you’ll find on menus, in markets, and in pots around the world.
🥟 East Asian
🇯🇵 Gyoza
Japanese dumplings - meat and vegetables, usually pan-fried
Example: Gyoza with a crisp bottom and a steamed lid. That method is the same idea as potstickers.
🇫🇷 French: Gyoza
🇩🇪 German: Gyoza
🇮🇹 Italian: Gyoza
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gyoza
💡 Nuance: Japanese take on jiaozi. Thinner skin, smaller fold, often pan-fried. Jiaozi is the broader Chinese family.
Japanese dumplings - meat and vegetables, usually pan-fried
Example: Gyoza with a crisp bottom and a steamed lid. That method is the same idea as potstickers.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Gyozas🇫🇷 French: Gyoza
🇩🇪 German: Gyoza
🇮🇹 Italian: Gyoza
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gyoza
💡 Nuance: Japanese take on jiaozi. Thinner skin, smaller fold, often pan-fried. Jiaozi is the broader Chinese family.
🇨🇳 Jiaozi
Chinese dumplings with meat, seafood, or vegetable fillings
Example: New Year jiaozi can be boiled, steamed, or pan-fried.
🇫🇷 French: Jiaozi
🇩🇪 German: Jiaozi
🇮🇹 Italian: Jiaozi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Jiaozi
💡 Nuance: Parent category. Gyoza and potstickers sit inside it. Wontons use a thinner square wrap.
Chinese dumplings with meat, seafood, or vegetable fillings
Example: New Year jiaozi can be boiled, steamed, or pan-fried.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Jiaozi🇫🇷 French: Jiaozi
🇩🇪 German: Jiaozi
🇮🇹 Italian: Jiaozi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Jiaozi
💡 Nuance: Parent category. Gyoza and potstickers sit inside it. Wontons use a thinner square wrap.
🍳 Potstickers
pan-fried dumplings with a browned bottom and a tender top
Example: Potstickers stick on purpose, then steam in a splash of water.
🇫🇷 French: Potstickers
🇩🇪 German: Potstickers
🇮🇹 Italian: Potstickers
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Potstickers
💡 Nuance: English name for the fry-then-steam method. Gyoza are often cooked this way. Not a different filling family.
pan-fried dumplings with a browned bottom and a tender top
Example: Potstickers stick on purpose, then steam in a splash of water.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Potstickers🇫🇷 French: Potstickers
🇩🇪 German: Potstickers
🇮🇹 Italian: Potstickers
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Potstickers
💡 Nuance: English name for the fry-then-steam method. Gyoza are often cooked this way. Not a different filling family.
🥟 Wontons
thin-wrapped Chinese dumplings with a savory filling
Example: Wontons in soup. The wrap is thinner and more square than a jiaozi skin.
🇫🇷 French: Wontons
🇩🇪 German: Wantan
🇮🇹 Italian: Wonton
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Wonton
💡 Nuance: Soup dumpling in the loose English sense, but not xiaolongbao. Xiaolongbao holds broth inside the bun.
thin-wrapped Chinese dumplings with a savory filling
Example: Wontons in soup. The wrap is thinner and more square than a jiaozi skin.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Wontons🇫🇷 French: Wontons
🇩🇪 German: Wantan
🇮🇹 Italian: Wonton
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Wonton
💡 Nuance: Soup dumpling in the loose English sense, but not xiaolongbao. Xiaolongbao holds broth inside the bun.
💧 Xiaolongbao
soup dumplings - meat plus liquid broth sealed in the wrapper
Example: Bite xiaolongbao carefully. The soup is inside, not poured over.
🇫🇷 French: Xiaolongbao
🇩🇪 German: Xiaolongbao
🇮🇹 Italian: Xiaolongbao
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Xiaolongbao
💡 Nuance: Also called soup dumplings. Broth starts as gelled stock in the filling. Not a wonton floating in soup.
soup dumplings - meat plus liquid broth sealed in the wrapper
Example: Bite xiaolongbao carefully. The soup is inside, not poured over.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Xiaolongbao / dumpling de sopa🇫🇷 French: Xiaolongbao
🇩🇪 German: Xiaolongbao
🇮🇹 Italian: Xiaolongbao
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Xiaolongbao
💡 Nuance: Also called soup dumplings. Broth starts as gelled stock in the filling. Not a wonton floating in soup.
⭕ Shumai
open-topped Chinese dumplings, often pork or shrimp
Example: Shumai sits open in the steamer. Har gow is the closed shrimp purse next to it.
🇫🇷 French: Shumai
🇩🇪 German: Shumai
🇮🇹 Italian: Shumai
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Shumai
💡 Nuance: Open cup. Dim sum staple. Not a sealed soup dumpling.
open-topped Chinese dumplings, often pork or shrimp
Example: Shumai sits open in the steamer. Har gow is the closed shrimp purse next to it.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Siu mai / shumai🇫🇷 French: Shumai
🇩🇪 German: Shumai
🇮🇹 Italian: Shumai
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Shumai
💡 Nuance: Open cup. Dim sum staple. Not a sealed soup dumpling.
🦐 Har Gow
Cantonese steamed shrimp dumplings with a translucent wrapper
Example: Har gow should look like glass over shrimp, not like a thick wheat skin.
🇫🇷 French: Har gow
🇩🇪 German: Har Gow
🇮🇹 Italian: Har gow
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Har gow
💡 Nuance: Wheat-starch wrap, shrimp, pleated. Shumai is the open pork-or-shrimp cup.
Cantonese steamed shrimp dumplings with a translucent wrapper
Example: Har gow should look like glass over shrimp, not like a thick wheat skin.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Har gow🇫🇷 French: Har gow
🇩🇪 German: Har Gow
🇮🇹 Italian: Har gow
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Har gow
💡 Nuance: Wheat-starch wrap, shrimp, pleated. Shumai is the open pork-or-shrimp cup.
⭕ Baozi
steamed bun of leavened dough, savory or sweet inside
Example: A baozi is bread around a filling. Jiaozi is a thin wrapper around a filling.
🇫🇷 French: Baozi
🇩🇪 German: Baozi
🇮🇹 Italian: Baozi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Baozi
💡 Nuance: Yeast dough. Xiaolongbao is a thin-skinned soup dumpling, not a fluffy bao.
steamed bun of leavened dough, savory or sweet inside
Example: A baozi is bread around a filling. Jiaozi is a thin wrapper around a filling.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Baozi / bao🇫🇷 French: Baozi
🇩🇪 German: Baozi
🇮🇹 Italian: Baozi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Baozi
💡 Nuance: Yeast dough. Xiaolongbao is a thin-skinned soup dumpling, not a fluffy bao.
🍡 Tangyuan
glutinous rice balls, usually stuffed with a sweet paste
Example: Tangyuan in sweet soup for a festival. Not a meat jiaozi.
🇫🇷 French: Tangyuan
🇩🇪 German: Tangyuan
🇮🇹 Italian: Tangyuan
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tangyuan
💡 Nuance: Sticky-rice dough, often sweet. Round, boiled, no wheat wrap.
glutinous rice balls, usually stuffed with a sweet paste
Example: Tangyuan in sweet soup for a festival. Not a meat jiaozi.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Tangyuan🇫🇷 French: Tangyuan
🇩🇪 German: Tangyuan
🇮🇹 Italian: Tangyuan
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tangyuan
💡 Nuance: Sticky-rice dough, often sweet. Round, boiled, no wheat wrap.
🇰🇷 Mandu
Korean dumplings - steamed, boiled, pan-fried, or deep-fried
Example: Mandu can look like gyoza and still be the Korean name and filling style.
🇫🇷 French: Mandu
🇩🇪 German: Mandu
🇮🇹 Italian: Mandu
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mandu
💡 Nuance: Korean dumpling family. Mandu-guk is those dumplings served in soup.
Korean dumplings - steamed, boiled, pan-fried, or deep-fried
Example: Mandu can look like gyoza and still be the Korean name and filling style.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mandu🇫🇷 French: Mandu
🇩🇪 German: Mandu
🇮🇹 Italian: Mandu
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mandu
💡 Nuance: Korean dumpling family. Mandu-guk is those dumplings served in soup.
🍲 Mandu-guk Dumplings
Korean dumplings eaten in a savory soup
Example: Mandu-guk on New Year. The dumpling is mandu. The guk is the soup.
🇫🇷 French: Mandu-guk
🇩🇪 German: Mandu-guk
🇮🇹 Italian: Mandu-guk
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mandu-guk
💡 Nuance: Serving style. Same family as mandu, not a new wrapper.
Korean dumplings eaten in a savory soup
Example: Mandu-guk on New Year. The dumpling is mandu. The guk is the soup.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mandu-guk🇫🇷 French: Mandu-guk
🇩🇪 German: Mandu-guk
🇮🇹 Italian: Mandu-guk
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mandu-guk
💡 Nuance: Serving style. Same family as mandu, not a new wrapper.
🏔️ Himalayan & Central Asian
🏔️ Momo
Himalayan dumplings filled with meat or vegetables
Example: Nepali momo with tomato achaar. Related to jiaozi, not the same fold or spice.
🇫🇷 French: Momo
🇩🇪 German: Momo
🇮🇹 Italian: Momo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Momo
💡 Nuance: Tibet, Nepal, Northeast India. Manti is the smaller Central Asian / Turkish cousin.
Himalayan dumplings filled with meat or vegetables
Example: Nepali momo with tomato achaar. Related to jiaozi, not the same fold or spice.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Momo🇫🇷 French: Momo
🇩🇪 German: Momo
🇮🇹 Italian: Momo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Momo
💡 Nuance: Tibet, Nepal, Northeast India. Manti is the smaller Central Asian / Turkish cousin.
🐑 Manti
small filled dumplings across Central Asia, Turkey, and nearby kitchens
Example: Manti under yogurt and paprika. Pelmeni is the Russian meat cousin.
🇫🇷 French: Manti
🇩🇪 German: Manti
🇮🇹 Italian: Manti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Manti
💡 Nuance: Often tiny and meat-filled. Size and yogurt sauce mark the table more than the fold.
small filled dumplings across Central Asia, Turkey, and nearby kitchens
Example: Manti under yogurt and paprika. Pelmeni is the Russian meat cousin.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Manti🇫🇷 French: Manti
🇩🇪 German: Manti
🇮🇹 Italian: Manti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Manti
💡 Nuance: Often tiny and meat-filled. Size and yogurt sauce mark the table more than the fold.
❄️ Eastern European & Jewish
🇷🇺 Pelmeni
Russian dumplings traditionally filled with seasoned meat
Example: Boiled pelmeni with butter and sour cream. Pierogi would more often be potato or cheese.
🇫🇷 French: Pelmeni
🇩🇪 German: Pelmeni
🇮🇹 Italian: Pelmeni
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pelmeni
💡 Nuance: Meat first. Varenyky and pierogi take more vegetarian and sweet fillings.
Russian dumplings traditionally filled with seasoned meat
Example: Boiled pelmeni with butter and sour cream. Pierogi would more often be potato or cheese.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pelmeni🇫🇷 French: Pelmeni
🇩🇪 German: Pelmeni
🇮🇹 Italian: Pelmeni
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pelmeni
💡 Nuance: Meat first. Varenyky and pierogi take more vegetarian and sweet fillings.
🇵🇱 Pierogi
Polish dumplings of unleavened dough - potato, cheese, meat, and more
Example: Pierogi boiled, then fried in butter. The English word is already plural.
🇫🇷 French: Pierogi
🇩🇪 German: Pierogi
🇮🇹 Italian: Pierogi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pierogi
💡 Nuance: Close cousin to Ukrainian varenyky. Fillings wander from savory to fruit.
Polish dumplings of unleavened dough - potato, cheese, meat, and more
Example: Pierogi boiled, then fried in butter. The English word is already plural.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pierogi🇫🇷 French: Pierogi
🇩🇪 German: Pierogi
🇮🇹 Italian: Pierogi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pierogi
💡 Nuance: Close cousin to Ukrainian varenyky. Fillings wander from savory to fruit.
🇺🇦 Varenyky
Ukrainian dumplings - potato, cheese, cabbage, or fruit
Example: Cherry varenyky with sour cream. Same idea as pierogi, different kitchen name.
🇫🇷 French: Varenyky
🇩🇪 German: Varenyky
🇮🇹 Italian: Varenyky
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Varenyky
💡 Nuance: Name means boiled things. Sweet fillings are normal, not a gimmick.
Ukrainian dumplings - potato, cheese, cabbage, or fruit
Example: Cherry varenyky with sour cream. Same idea as pierogi, different kitchen name.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Varenyky🇫🇷 French: Varenyky
🇩🇪 German: Varenyky
🇮🇹 Italian: Varenyky
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Varenyky
💡 Nuance: Name means boiled things. Sweet fillings are normal, not a gimmick.
✡️ Kreplach
Jewish dumplings, usually meat-filled, often in soup
Example: Kreplach in chicken soup. Wontons play a similar soup job in another kitchen.
🇫🇷 French: Kreplach
🇩🇪 German: Kreplach
🇮🇹 Italian: Kreplach
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Kreplach
💡 Nuance: Ashkenazi folded meat dumpling. Holiday soup more than a pan-fry default.
Jewish dumplings, usually meat-filled, often in soup
Example: Kreplach in chicken soup. Wontons play a similar soup job in another kitchen.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Kreplach🇫🇷 French: Kreplach
🇩🇪 German: Kreplach
🇮🇹 Italian: Kreplach
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Kreplach
💡 Nuance: Ashkenazi folded meat dumpling. Holiday soup more than a pan-fry default.
🇮🇹 Italian
🍝 Ravioli
Italian filled pasta - stuffing sealed between two sheets
Example: Ravioli are square or round pillows. Tortellini are the small rings.
🇫🇷 French: Ravioli
🇩🇪 German: Ravioli
🇮🇹 Italian: Ravioli
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ravióli
💡 Nuance: On the pasta page too. Here they count as dumplings because the filling is enclosed.
Italian filled pasta - stuffing sealed between two sheets
Example: Ravioli are square or round pillows. Tortellini are the small rings.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Raviolis🇫🇷 French: Ravioli
🇩🇪 German: Ravioli
🇮🇹 Italian: Ravioli
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ravióli
💡 Nuance: On the pasta page too. Here they count as dumplings because the filling is enclosed.
💍 Tortellini
small ring-shaped stuffed pasta
Example: Tortellini in brodo. Agnolotti are the little folded Piedmont pockets.
🇫🇷 French: Tortellini
🇩🇪 German: Tortellini
🇮🇹 Italian: Tortellini
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tortellini
💡 Nuance: Navel shape. Smaller than most ravioli. Still pasta dough, not potato gnocchi.
small ring-shaped stuffed pasta
Example: Tortellini in brodo. Agnolotti are the little folded Piedmont pockets.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Tortellini🇫🇷 French: Tortellini
🇩🇪 German: Tortellini
🇮🇹 Italian: Tortellini
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tortellini
💡 Nuance: Navel shape. Smaller than most ravioli. Still pasta dough, not potato gnocchi.
🥟 Agnolotti
small folded stuffed pasta, especially from Piedmont
Example: Agnolotti del plin are pinched shut. Ravioli are usually two sheets pressed together.
🇫🇷 French: Agnolotti
🇩🇪 German: Agnolotti
🇮🇹 Italian: Agnolotti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Agnolotti
💡 Nuance: Folded from one sheet more often than sandwiched. Same stuffed-pasta family.
small folded stuffed pasta, especially from Piedmont
Example: Agnolotti del plin are pinched shut. Ravioli are usually two sheets pressed together.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Agnolotti🇫🇷 French: Agnolotti
🇩🇪 German: Agnolotti
🇮🇹 Italian: Agnolotti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Agnolotti
💡 Nuance: Folded from one sheet more often than sandwiched. Same stuffed-pasta family.
🧀 Gnudi
Italian dumplings of ricotta and greens - almost no pasta shell
Example: Gnudi means naked. They are the ravioli filling without the coat.
🇫🇷 French: Gnudi
🇩🇪 German: Gnudi
🇮🇹 Italian: Gnudi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gnudi
💡 Nuance: Ricotta balls, not potato gnocchi and not stuffed pasta.
Italian dumplings of ricotta and greens - almost no pasta shell
Example: Gnudi means naked. They are the ravioli filling without the coat.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Gnudi🇫🇷 French: Gnudi
🇩🇪 German: Gnudi
🇮🇹 Italian: Gnudi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gnudi
💡 Nuance: Ricotta balls, not potato gnocchi and not stuffed pasta.
🥔 Gnocchi
soft Italian dumplings, usually potato and flour
Example: Potato gnocchi with sage butter. They are dumplings, not filled pasta.
🇫🇷 French: Gnocchis
🇩🇪 German: Gnocchi
🇮🇹 Italian: Gnocchi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nhoque
💡 Nuance: On the pasta page as a shape cousin. Here they sit with other unfilled dumplings like knödel.
soft Italian dumplings, usually potato and flour
Example: Potato gnocchi with sage butter. They are dumplings, not filled pasta.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ñoquis🇫🇷 French: Gnocchis
🇩🇪 German: Gnocchi
🇮🇹 Italian: Gnocchi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nhoque
💡 Nuance: On the pasta page as a shape cousin. Here they sit with other unfilled dumplings like knödel.
🥨 Central European, American & African
🇩🇪 Spaetzle
small soft egg dumplings from Germany and Central Europe
Example: Spaetzle dropped into water, then tossed in butter. On the noodle page they count as noodles too.
🇫🇷 French: Spätzle
🇩🇪 German: Spätzle
🇮🇹 Italian: Spätzle
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Spätzle
💡 Nuance: Soft nubs, no filling. Knödel are the big ones.
small soft egg dumplings from Germany and Central Europe
Example: Spaetzle dropped into water, then tossed in butter. On the noodle page they count as noodles too.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Spätzle🇫🇷 French: Spätzle
🇩🇪 German: Spätzle
🇮🇹 Italian: Spätzle
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Spätzle
💡 Nuance: Soft nubs, no filling. Knödel are the big ones.
🍞 Knödel
large German and Austrian dumplings of bread, potato, or flour
Example: A bread knödel in roast gravy is the size of a fist, not a wonton.
🇫🇷 French: Knödel
🇩🇪 German: Knödel
🇮🇹 Italian: Canederli
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Knödel
💡 Nuance: Big and often unfilled. Knedle are the fruit-filled Central European cousins.
large German and Austrian dumplings of bread, potato, or flour
Example: A bread knödel in roast gravy is the size of a fist, not a wonton.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Knödel🇫🇷 French: Knödel
🇩🇪 German: Knödel
🇮🇹 Italian: Canederli
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Knödel
💡 Nuance: Big and often unfilled. Knedle are the fruit-filled Central European cousins.
🍑 Knedle
Central European dumplings, often potato dough around fruit
Example: Plum knedle rolled in buttered crumbs. Sweet, not a meat pierogi.
🇫🇷 French: Knedle
🇩🇪 German: Knedle
🇮🇹 Italian: Knedle
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Knedle
💡 Nuance: Fruit inside potato dough. Related to knödel, usually smaller and filled.
Central European dumplings, often potato dough around fruit
Example: Plum knedle rolled in buttered crumbs. Sweet, not a meat pierogi.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Knedle🇫🇷 French: Knedle
🇩🇪 German: Knedle
🇮🇹 Italian: Knedle
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Knedle
💡 Nuance: Fruit inside potato dough. Related to knödel, usually smaller and filled.
🌽 Tamales
Mesoamerican steamed parcels of masa, wrapped before cooking
Example: A tamal is unwrapped at the table. The husk is the steamer, not the dough.
🇫🇷 French: Tamales
🇩🇪 German: Tamales
🇮🇹 Italian: Tamales
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tamales
💡 Nuance: Corn dough, leaf or husk wrap. A dumpling by method, not by wheat fold.
Mesoamerican steamed parcels of masa, wrapped before cooking
Example: A tamal is unwrapped at the table. The husk is the steamer, not the dough.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Tamales🇫🇷 French: Tamales
🇩🇪 German: Tamales
🇮🇹 Italian: Tamales
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tamales
💡 Nuance: Corn dough, leaf or husk wrap. A dumpling by method, not by wheat fold.
🥣 Fufu Dumplings
soft African starch portions served with soup or stew
Example: Pinch fufu and dip it. There is no wrapper and no fold.
🇫🇷 French: Foutou / fufu
🇩🇪 German: Fufu
🇮🇹 Italian: Fufu
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fufu
💡 Nuance: Starch ball, not a filled pocket. Banku is the Ghanaian fermented corn-and-cassava cousin.
soft African starch portions served with soup or stew
Example: Pinch fufu and dip it. There is no wrapper and no fold.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Fufu🇫🇷 French: Foutou / fufu
🇩🇪 German: Fufu
🇮🇹 Italian: Fufu
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fufu
💡 Nuance: Starch ball, not a filled pocket. Banku is the Ghanaian fermented corn-and-cassava cousin.
🇬🇭 Banku
Ghanaian fermented corn-and-cassava dough shaped into portions
Example: Banku with okra soup. Related to fufu, sourer from the ferment.
🇫🇷 French: Banku
🇩🇪 German: Banku
🇮🇹 Italian: Banku
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Banku
💡 Nuance: Fermented dough ball. Dumpling here means a shaped starch, not a sealed filling.
Ghanaian fermented corn-and-cassava dough shaped into portions
Example: Banku with okra soup. Related to fufu, sourer from the ferment.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Banku🇫🇷 French: Banku
🇩🇪 German: Banku
🇮🇹 Italian: Banku
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Banku
💡 Nuance: Fermented dough ball. Dumpling here means a shaped starch, not a sealed filling.
🔥 Fried Dumplings
dumplings cooked in hot oil until the outside is crisp
Example: Fried dumplings on a diner menu can mean almost any filled pocket from the fryer.
🇫🇷 French: Raviolis frits / dumplings frits
🇩🇪 German: Frittierte Dumplings
🇮🇹 Italian: Dumpling fritti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dumplings fritos
💡 Nuance: Method, not a cuisine. Potstickers are pan-fried. These are often deep-fried.
dumplings cooked in hot oil until the outside is crisp
Example: Fried dumplings on a diner menu can mean almost any filled pocket from the fryer.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Dumplings fritos🇫🇷 French: Raviolis frits / dumplings frits
🇩🇪 German: Frittierte Dumplings
🇮🇹 Italian: Dumpling fritti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dumplings fritos
💡 Nuance: Method, not a cuisine. Potstickers are pan-fried. These are often deep-fried.
💧 Boiled Dumplings
dumplings cooked in simmering water until tender
Example: Boiled dumplings in soup, or drained and sauced. Jiaozi, pelmeni, and pierogi all start this way.
🇫🇷 French: Dumplings bouillis
🇩🇪 German: Gekochte Dumplings
🇮🇹 Italian: Dumpling lessati
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dumplings cozidos
💡 Nuance: Method name. Tells you the heat, not the filling or the country.
dumplings cooked in simmering water until tender
Example: Boiled dumplings in soup, or drained and sauced. Jiaozi, pelmeni, and pierogi all start this way.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Dumplings hervidos🇫🇷 French: Dumplings bouillis
🇩🇪 German: Gekochte Dumplings
🇮🇹 Italian: Dumpling lessati
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dumplings cozidos
💡 Nuance: Method name. Tells you the heat, not the filling or the country.
🧠 Useful Distinctions
🇯🇵 Gyoza vs. 🍳 Potstickers vs. 🇨🇳 Jiaozi
Jiaozi is the Chinese family. Gyoza is the Japanese style. Potsticker is the English name for the fry-then-steam method.
Jiaozi is the Chinese family. Gyoza is the Japanese style. Potsticker is the English name for the fry-then-steam method.
🥟 Wontons vs. 💧 Xiaolongbao
Wontons are thin wraps, often in soup. Xiaolongbao seals the soup inside.
Wontons are thin wraps, often in soup. Xiaolongbao seals the soup inside.
⭕ Shumai vs. 🦐 Har gow vs. ⭕ Baozi
Shumai is open. Har gow is a translucent shrimp purse. Baozi is a fluffy yeast bun.
Shumai is open. Har gow is a translucent shrimp purse. Baozi is a fluffy yeast bun.
🇵🇱 Pierogi vs. 🇺🇦 Varenyky vs. 🇷🇺 Pelmeni
Pierogi and varenyky are close cousins with many fillings. Pelmeni is the meat-first Russian one.
Pierogi and varenyky are close cousins with many fillings. Pelmeni is the meat-first Russian one.
🍝 Ravioli vs. 💍 Tortellini vs. 🧀 Gnudi vs. 🥔 Gnocchi
Ravioli and tortellini are stuffed pasta. Gnudi is the filling without the coat. Gnocchi is potato dumpling, unfilled.
Ravioli and tortellini are stuffed pasta. Gnudi is the filling without the coat. Gnocchi is potato dumpling, unfilled.
🍞 Knödel vs. 🍑 Knedle vs. 🇩🇪 Spaetzle
Knödel is large. Knedle is often fruit-filled. Spaetzle is tiny unfilled nubs.
Knödel is large. Knedle is often fruit-filled. Spaetzle is tiny unfilled nubs.
🌽 Tamales vs. 🥣 Fufu vs. 🇬🇭 Banku
Wrapped masa vs. pinched starch vs. fermented Ghanaian dough. Dumpling here means a shaped starch, not a wheat fold.
Wrapped masa vs. pinched starch vs. fermented Ghanaian dough. Dumpling here means a shaped starch, not a wheat fold.
💬 Everyday Dumpling Phrases
💧 The soup is inside the xiaolongbao, not around it.
sealed broth vs. wonton soup
🇫🇷 La soupe est dans le xiaolongbao, pas autour.
🇩🇪 Die Suppe ist im Xiaolongbao, nicht darum.
🇮🇹 La zuppa è dentro lo xiaolongbao, non intorno.
🇵🇹 A sopa está dentro do xiaolongbao, não à volta.
sealed broth vs. wonton soup
Show translations
🇪🇸 La sopa va dentro del xiaolongbao, no alrededor.🇫🇷 La soupe est dans le xiaolongbao, pas autour.
🇩🇪 Die Suppe ist im Xiaolongbao, nicht darum.
🇮🇹 La zuppa è dentro lo xiaolongbao, non intorno.
🇵🇹 A sopa está dentro do xiaolongbao, não à volta.
🍳 Potstickers are a method. Gyoza is a style.
English vs. Japanese names
🇫🇷 Potsticker, c’est une méthode. Gyoza, c’est un style.
🇩🇪 Potsticker ist eine Methode. Gyoza ist ein Stil.
🇮🇹 Potsticker è un metodo. Gyoza è uno stile.
🇵🇹 Potsticker é um método. Gyoza é um estilo.
English vs. Japanese names
Show translations
🇪🇸 Potsticker es un método. Gyoza es un estilo.🇫🇷 Potsticker, c’est une méthode. Gyoza, c’est un style.
🇩🇪 Potsticker ist eine Methode. Gyoza ist ein Stil.
🇮🇹 Potsticker è un metodo. Gyoza è uno stile.
🇵🇹 Potsticker é um método. Gyoza é um estilo.
⭕ That is a bao. It is bread, not a thin wrap.
bun vs. dumpling skin
🇫🇷 C’est un bao. C’est du pain, pas une fine pâte.
🇩🇪 Das ist ein Bao. Das ist Brot, keine dünne Hülle.
🇮🇹 È un bao. È pane, non una sfoglia sottile.
🇵🇹 Isso é um bao. É pão, não uma massa fina.
bun vs. dumpling skin
Show translations
🇪🇸 Eso es un bao. Es pan, no una envoltura fina.🇫🇷 C’est un bao. C’est du pain, pas une fine pâte.
🇩🇪 Das ist ein Bao. Das ist Brot, keine dünne Hülle.
🇮🇹 È un bao. È pane, non una sfoglia sottile.
🇵🇹 Isso é um bao. É pão, não uma massa fina.
🇵🇱 Pierogi is already plural. You do not need pierogies.
the English habit
🇫🇷 Pierogi est déjà un pluriel.
🇩🇪 Pierogi ist schon Plural.
🇮🇹 Pierogi è già plurale.
🇵🇹 Pierogi já é plural.
the English habit
Show translations
🇪🇸 Pierogi ya es plural.🇫🇷 Pierogi est déjà un pluriel.
🇩🇪 Pierogi ist schon Plural.
🇮🇹 Pierogi è già plurale.
🇵🇹 Pierogi já é plural.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Read the situation. Choose the more precise dumpling word.
Read the situation. Choose the more precise dumpling word.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%