🥟 Dumpling Vocab
Dumpling is a broad English food word. Some dumplings are thin pieces of dough wrapped around a filling, such as jiaozi, pierogi, and ravioli. Others use fluffy yeast dough, like baozi, or sticky rice dough, like tangyuan. Still others, including gnocchi, spaetzle, and knödel, may have no filling or wrapper at all. A dumpling name may describe its culture, wrapper, shape, filling, cooking method, or serving style. Learning these distinctions will help you understand restaurant menus, recipes, frozen-food labels, and conversations about dumplings from around the world.
🥟 East Asian
🇯🇵 Gyoza
Japanese dumplings with a thin wrapper and savory meat or vegetable filling
Example: The gyoza had crisp browned bottoms and tender steamed tops.
🇫🇷 French: Gyoza
🇩🇪 German: Gyoza
🇮🇹 Italian: Gyoza
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gyoza
💡 Nuance: Gyoza developed from the broader Chinese jiaozi tradition. They are often smaller, have relatively thin wrappers, and are commonly pan-fried and then steamed.
Japanese dumplings with a thin wrapper and savory meat or vegetable filling
Example: The gyoza had crisp browned bottoms and tender steamed tops.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Gyozas🇫🇷 French: Gyoza
🇩🇪 German: Gyoza
🇮🇹 Italian: Gyoza
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gyoza
💡 Nuance: Gyoza developed from the broader Chinese jiaozi tradition. They are often smaller, have relatively thin wrappers, and are commonly pan-fried and then steamed.
🇨🇳 Jiaozi
Chinese filled dumplings that may be boiled, steamed, or pan-fried
Example: The family made pork-and-cabbage jiaozi for Lunar New Year.
🇫🇷 French: Jiaozi
🇩🇪 German: Jiaozi
🇮🇹 Italian: Jiaozi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Jiaozi
💡 Nuance: Jiaozi is the broader Chinese dumpling family in this lesson. Gyoza is the Japanese relative, while potsticker emphasizes a particular fry-then-steam cooking method.
Chinese filled dumplings that may be boiled, steamed, or pan-fried
Example: The family made pork-and-cabbage jiaozi for Lunar New Year.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Jiaozi🇫🇷 French: Jiaozi
🇩🇪 German: Jiaozi
🇮🇹 Italian: Jiaozi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Jiaozi
💡 Nuance: Jiaozi is the broader Chinese dumpling family in this lesson. Gyoza is the Japanese relative, while potsticker emphasizes a particular fry-then-steam cooking method.
🍳 Potstickers
dumplings cooked by browning the bottoms and then steaming them in the same pan
Example: She added a splash of water to the pan and covered the potstickers so the tops could steam.
🇫🇷 French: Potstickers
🇩🇪 German: Potstickers
🇮🇹 Italian: Potstickers
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Potstickers
💡 Nuance: Potsticker is especially useful as a cooking-method term in English. Gyoza and Chinese dumplings may both be prepared this way, so the word does not define one unique filling.
dumplings cooked by browning the bottoms and then steaming them in the same pan
Example: She added a splash of water to the pan and covered the potstickers so the tops could steam.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Potstickers🇫🇷 French: Potstickers
🇩🇪 German: Potstickers
🇮🇹 Italian: Potstickers
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Potstickers
💡 Nuance: Potsticker is especially useful as a cooking-method term in English. Gyoza and Chinese dumplings may both be prepared this way, so the word does not define one unique filling.
🥟 Wontons
Chinese dumplings with relatively thin wrappers and savory fillings
Example: The wontons were served in a clear broth with green onions.
🇫🇷 French: Wontons
🇩🇪 German: Wantan
🇮🇹 Italian: Wonton
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Wonton
💡 Nuance: Wontons are often made with thin square wrappers and may be served in soup. Do not confuse wonton soup, where the broth surrounds the dumpling, with xiaolongbao, where broth is sealed inside.
Chinese dumplings with relatively thin wrappers and savory fillings
Example: The wontons were served in a clear broth with green onions.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Wontons🇫🇷 French: Wontons
🇩🇪 German: Wantan
🇮🇹 Italian: Wonton
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Wonton
💡 Nuance: Wontons are often made with thin square wrappers and may be served in soup. Do not confuse wonton soup, where the broth surrounds the dumpling, with xiaolongbao, where broth is sealed inside.
💧 Xiaolongbao
steamed Chinese dumplings containing meat and hot broth inside the wrapper
Example: She carefully opened the xiaolongbao because hot broth was trapped inside.
🇫🇷 French: Xiaolongbao
🇩🇪 German: Xiaolongbao
🇮🇹 Italian: Xiaolongbao
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Xiaolongbao
💡 Nuance: In English, xiaolongbao are often called soup dumplings. The important idea is that the broth is inside the wrapper rather than served around the dumpling in a bowl.
steamed Chinese dumplings containing meat and hot broth inside the wrapper
Example: She carefully opened the xiaolongbao because hot broth was trapped inside.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Xiaolongbao / dumpling de sopa🇫🇷 French: Xiaolongbao
🇩🇪 German: Xiaolongbao
🇮🇹 Italian: Xiaolongbao
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Xiaolongbao
💡 Nuance: In English, xiaolongbao are often called soup dumplings. The important idea is that the broth is inside the wrapper rather than served around the dumpling in a bowl.
⭕ Shumai
open-topped Chinese dumplings commonly filled with pork, shrimp, or both
Example: The shumai stood upright in the bamboo steamer with the filling visible on top.
🇫🇷 French: Shumai
🇩🇪 German: Shumai
🇮🇹 Italian: Shumai
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Shumai
💡 Nuance: The open top is an easy visual clue. Compare it with har gow, which is a closed shrimp dumpling with a translucent wrapper.
open-topped Chinese dumplings commonly filled with pork, shrimp, or both
Example: The shumai stood upright in the bamboo steamer with the filling visible on top.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Siu mai / shumai🇫🇷 French: Shumai
🇩🇪 German: Shumai
🇮🇹 Italian: Shumai
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Shumai
💡 Nuance: The open top is an easy visual clue. Compare it with har gow, which is a closed shrimp dumpling with a translucent wrapper.
🦐 Har Gow
Cantonese steamed shrimp dumplings with thin translucent wrappers
Example: The pink shrimp were visible through the translucent har gow wrapper.
🇫🇷 French: Har gow
🇩🇪 German: Har Gow
🇮🇹 Italian: Har gow
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Har gow
💡 Nuance: Translucent means partly see-through. Har gow are associated with shrimp and a delicate pleated wrapper, while shumai are open on top.
Cantonese steamed shrimp dumplings with thin translucent wrappers
Example: The pink shrimp were visible through the translucent har gow wrapper.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Har gow🇫🇷 French: Har gow
🇩🇪 German: Har Gow
🇮🇹 Italian: Har gow
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Har gow
💡 Nuance: Translucent means partly see-through. Har gow are associated with shrimp and a delicate pleated wrapper, while shumai are open on top.
⭕ Baozi
filled Chinese buns made from soft leavened dough and commonly steamed
Example: The baozi had a fluffy bread-like exterior around a savory pork filling.
🇫🇷 French: Baozi
🇩🇪 German: Baozi
🇮🇹 Italian: Baozi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Baozi
💡 Nuance: Baozi use leavened dough, meaning the dough rises and becomes fluffy like bread. Jiaozi use a much thinner wrapper and do not have that bread-like texture.
filled Chinese buns made from soft leavened dough and commonly steamed
Example: The baozi had a fluffy bread-like exterior around a savory pork filling.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Baozi / bao🇫🇷 French: Baozi
🇩🇪 German: Baozi
🇮🇹 Italian: Baozi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Baozi
💡 Nuance: Baozi use leavened dough, meaning the dough rises and becomes fluffy like bread. Jiaozi use a much thinner wrapper and do not have that bread-like texture.
🍡 Tangyuan
soft glutinous-rice balls, often filled with a sweet paste and served in liquid
Example: The sesame-filled tangyuan were served warm in a lightly sweet soup.
🇫🇷 French: Tangyuan
🇩🇪 German: Tangyuan
🇮🇹 Italian: Tangyuan
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tangyuan
💡 Nuance: Tangyuan use sticky glutinous-rice dough rather than a wheat wrapper. They are often sweet, round, and boiled.
soft glutinous-rice balls, often filled with a sweet paste and served in liquid
Example: The sesame-filled tangyuan were served warm in a lightly sweet soup.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Tangyuan🇫🇷 French: Tangyuan
🇩🇪 German: Tangyuan
🇮🇹 Italian: Tangyuan
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tangyuan
💡 Nuance: Tangyuan use sticky glutinous-rice dough rather than a wheat wrapper. They are often sweet, round, and boiled.
🇰🇷 Mandu
Korean filled dumplings that may be steamed, boiled, pan-fried, or deep-fried
Example: We ordered kimchi mandu and steamed them until the wrappers were tender.
🇫🇷 French: Mandu
🇩🇪 German: Mandu
🇮🇹 Italian: Mandu
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mandu
💡 Nuance: Mandu is the broad Korean dumpling family. The cooking method and filling may vary significantly.
Korean filled dumplings that may be steamed, boiled, pan-fried, or deep-fried
Example: We ordered kimchi mandu and steamed them until the wrappers were tender.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mandu🇫🇷 French: Mandu
🇩🇪 German: Mandu
🇮🇹 Italian: Mandu
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mandu
💡 Nuance: Mandu is the broad Korean dumpling family. The cooking method and filling may vary significantly.
🍲 Mandu-guk Dumplings
Korean mandu served in a savory soup
Example: The mandu-guk arrived with dumplings floating in a clear savory broth.
🇫🇷 French: Mandu-guk
🇩🇪 German: Mandu-guk
🇮🇹 Italian: Mandu-guk
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mandu-guk
💡 Nuance: Here the distinction is mainly serving style. Mandu names the dumplings, while guk refers to soup.
Korean mandu served in a savory soup
Example: The mandu-guk arrived with dumplings floating in a clear savory broth.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Mandu-guk🇫🇷 French: Mandu-guk
🇩🇪 German: Mandu-guk
🇮🇹 Italian: Mandu-guk
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Mandu-guk
💡 Nuance: Here the distinction is mainly serving style. Mandu names the dumplings, while guk refers to soup.
🏔️ Himalayan & Central Asian
🏔️ Momo
Himalayan filled dumplings associated with Tibet, Nepal, and nearby regions
Example: The steamed momo came with a spicy tomato dipping sauce.
🇫🇷 French: Momo
🇩🇪 German: Momo
🇮🇹 Italian: Momo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Momo
💡 Nuance: Momo may be filled with meat or vegetables and can be steamed or prepared in other ways. Similar-looking dumplings exist across Asia, but the regional name and seasonings matter.
Himalayan filled dumplings associated with Tibet, Nepal, and nearby regions
Example: The steamed momo came with a spicy tomato dipping sauce.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Momo🇫🇷 French: Momo
🇩🇪 German: Momo
🇮🇹 Italian: Momo
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Momo
💡 Nuance: Momo may be filled with meat or vegetables and can be steamed or prepared in other ways. Similar-looking dumplings exist across Asia, but the regional name and seasonings matter.
🐑 Manti
small filled dumplings found across Turkey, Central Asia, and neighboring cuisines
Example: The manti were served with yogurt, melted butter, and red pepper.
🇫🇷 French: Manti
🇩🇪 German: Manti
🇮🇹 Italian: Manti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Manti
💡 Nuance: Manti vary widely by region, but meat fillings and yogurt-based serving styles are common clues in many versions.
small filled dumplings found across Turkey, Central Asia, and neighboring cuisines
Example: The manti were served with yogurt, melted butter, and red pepper.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Manti🇫🇷 French: Manti
🇩🇪 German: Manti
🇮🇹 Italian: Manti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Manti
💡 Nuance: Manti vary widely by region, but meat fillings and yogurt-based serving styles are common clues in many versions.
❄️ Eastern European & Jewish
🇷🇺 Pelmeni
Russian dumplings traditionally filled with seasoned meat
Example: The boiled pelmeni were served with butter and sour cream.
🇫🇷 French: Pelmeni
🇩🇪 German: Pelmeni
🇮🇹 Italian: Pelmeni
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pelmeni
💡 Nuance: Meat is especially strongly associated with pelmeni. Pierogi and varenyky commonly appear with a wider range of potato, cheese, cabbage, or fruit fillings.
Russian dumplings traditionally filled with seasoned meat
Example: The boiled pelmeni were served with butter and sour cream.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pelmeni🇫🇷 French: Pelmeni
🇩🇪 German: Pelmeni
🇮🇹 Italian: Pelmeni
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pelmeni
💡 Nuance: Meat is especially strongly associated with pelmeni. Pierogi and varenyky commonly appear with a wider range of potato, cheese, cabbage, or fruit fillings.
🇵🇱 Pierogi
Polish filled dumplings made from unleavened dough
Example: The potato-and-cheese pierogi were boiled and then browned in butter.
🇫🇷 French: Pierogi
🇩🇪 German: Pierogi
🇮🇹 Italian: Pierogi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pierogi
💡 Nuance: Pierogi can have savory or sweet fillings. In Polish, pierogi is already plural, although the form pierogies is also heard in everyday North American English.
Polish filled dumplings made from unleavened dough
Example: The potato-and-cheese pierogi were boiled and then browned in butter.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Pierogi🇫🇷 French: Pierogi
🇩🇪 German: Pierogi
🇮🇹 Italian: Pierogi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Pierogi
💡 Nuance: Pierogi can have savory or sweet fillings. In Polish, pierogi is already plural, although the form pierogies is also heard in everyday North American English.
🇺🇦 Varenyky
Ukrainian filled dumplings commonly made with potato, cheese, cabbage, or fruit
Example: The cherry varenyky were served with sour cream.
🇫🇷 French: Varenyky
🇩🇪 German: Varenyky
🇮🇹 Italian: Varenyky
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Varenyky
💡 Nuance: Varenyky and pierogi are closely related food traditions. Sweet fruit fillings are a normal part of the category, not an unusual dessert adaptation.
Ukrainian filled dumplings commonly made with potato, cheese, cabbage, or fruit
Example: The cherry varenyky were served with sour cream.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Varenyky🇫🇷 French: Varenyky
🇩🇪 German: Varenyky
🇮🇹 Italian: Varenyky
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Varenyky
💡 Nuance: Varenyky and pierogi are closely related food traditions. Sweet fruit fillings are a normal part of the category, not an unusual dessert adaptation.
✡️ Kreplach
Ashkenazi Jewish filled dumplings, often meat-filled and served in soup
Example: The chicken soup contained several meat-filled kreplach.
🇫🇷 French: Kreplach
🇩🇪 German: Kreplach
🇮🇹 Italian: Kreplach
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Kreplach
💡 Nuance: Kreplach are strongly associated with Jewish cooking and are often served in broth. Their role in soup may remind learners of wontons, even though the traditions are unrelated.
Ashkenazi Jewish filled dumplings, often meat-filled and served in soup
Example: The chicken soup contained several meat-filled kreplach.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Kreplach🇫🇷 French: Kreplach
🇩🇪 German: Kreplach
🇮🇹 Italian: Kreplach
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Kreplach
💡 Nuance: Kreplach are strongly associated with Jewish cooking and are often served in broth. Their role in soup may remind learners of wontons, even though the traditions are unrelated.
🇮🇹 Italian
🍝 Ravioli
Italian filled pasta with filling sealed inside pasta dough
Example: The spinach-and-ricotta ravioli were served with sage butter.
🇫🇷 French: Ravioli
🇩🇪 German: Ravioli
🇮🇹 Italian: Ravioli
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ravióli
💡 Nuance: Ravioli are primarily classified as pasta, but they also fit the broad dumpling idea because a filling is enclosed in dough. They are often square or round rather than ring-shaped.
Italian filled pasta with filling sealed inside pasta dough
Example: The spinach-and-ricotta ravioli were served with sage butter.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Raviolis🇫🇷 French: Ravioli
🇩🇪 German: Ravioli
🇮🇹 Italian: Ravioli
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Ravióli
💡 Nuance: Ravioli are primarily classified as pasta, but they also fit the broad dumpling idea because a filling is enclosed in dough. They are often square or round rather than ring-shaped.
💍 Tortellini
small ring-shaped Italian stuffed pasta
Example: The tortellini were served in broth instead of pasta sauce.
🇫🇷 French: Tortellini
🇩🇪 German: Tortellini
🇮🇹 Italian: Tortellini
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tortellini
💡 Nuance: The ring or navel-like shape is the easiest clue. Tortellini are stuffed pasta, while gnocchi are unfilled dumplings.
small ring-shaped Italian stuffed pasta
Example: The tortellini were served in broth instead of pasta sauce.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Tortellini🇫🇷 French: Tortellini
🇩🇪 German: Tortellini
🇮🇹 Italian: Tortellini
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tortellini
💡 Nuance: The ring or navel-like shape is the easiest clue. Tortellini are stuffed pasta, while gnocchi are unfilled dumplings.
🥟 Agnolotti
small stuffed pasta associated especially with Piedmont in northern Italy
Example: The chef pinched each agnolotto shut around the meat filling.
🇫🇷 French: Agnolotti
🇩🇪 German: Agnolotti
🇮🇹 Italian: Agnolotti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Agnolotti
💡 Nuance: Agnolotti belong to the same general stuffed-pasta family as ravioli, but their folding and regional traditions differ.
small stuffed pasta associated especially with Piedmont in northern Italy
Example: The chef pinched each agnolotto shut around the meat filling.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Agnolotti🇫🇷 French: Agnolotti
🇩🇪 German: Agnolotti
🇮🇹 Italian: Agnolotti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Agnolotti
💡 Nuance: Agnolotti belong to the same general stuffed-pasta family as ravioli, but their folding and regional traditions differ.
🧀 Gnudi
soft Italian dumplings made mainly from ricotta and sometimes greens, without a pasta wrapper
Example: The ricotta gnudi were soft and tender because there was no pasta shell around them.
🇫🇷 French: Gnudi
🇩🇪 German: Gnudi
🇮🇹 Italian: Gnudi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gnudi
💡 Nuance: The name is often explained as meaning “naked.” A useful learner comparison is that gnudi resemble a ravioli-style ricotta filling served without its pasta wrapper.
soft Italian dumplings made mainly from ricotta and sometimes greens, without a pasta wrapper
Example: The ricotta gnudi were soft and tender because there was no pasta shell around them.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Gnudi🇫🇷 French: Gnudi
🇩🇪 German: Gnudi
🇮🇹 Italian: Gnudi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Gnudi
💡 Nuance: The name is often explained as meaning “naked.” A useful learner comparison is that gnudi resemble a ravioli-style ricotta filling served without its pasta wrapper.
🥔 Gnocchi
soft Italian dumplings commonly made from potato and flour
Example: The potato gnocchi were tossed with brown butter and sage.
🇫🇷 French: Gnocchis
🇩🇪 German: Gnocchi
🇮🇹 Italian: Gnocchi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nhoque
💡 Nuance: Gnocchi are not stuffed pasta. Their dough itself becomes the dumpling, making them closer in concept to other unfilled dumplings such as knödel.
soft Italian dumplings commonly made from potato and flour
Example: The potato gnocchi were tossed with brown butter and sage.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Ñoquis🇫🇷 French: Gnocchis
🇩🇪 German: Gnocchi
🇮🇹 Italian: Gnocchi
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Nhoque
💡 Nuance: Gnocchi are not stuffed pasta. Their dough itself becomes the dumpling, making them closer in concept to other unfilled dumplings such as knödel.
🥨 Central European, American & African
🇩🇪 Spaetzle
small soft egg-based dumplings or noodles from Germany and Central Europe
Example: The spaetzle were boiled and then tossed with butter and herbs.
🇫🇷 French: Spätzle
🇩🇪 German: Spätzle
🇮🇹 Italian: Spätzle
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Spätzle
💡 Nuance: Spaetzle sit between the English categories noodle and dumpling. They are small, soft, and unfilled rather than wrapped around a filling.
small soft egg-based dumplings or noodles from Germany and Central Europe
Example: The spaetzle were boiled and then tossed with butter and herbs.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Spätzle🇫🇷 French: Spätzle
🇩🇪 German: Spätzle
🇮🇹 Italian: Spätzle
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Spätzle
💡 Nuance: Spaetzle sit between the English categories noodle and dumpling. They are small, soft, and unfilled rather than wrapped around a filling.
🍞 Knödel
large German or Austrian dumplings commonly made from bread, potato, or flour
Example: The bread knödel soaked up the rich gravy from the roast.
🇫🇷 French: Knödel
🇩🇪 German: Knödel
🇮🇹 Italian: Canederli
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Knödel
💡 Nuance: Knödel are often relatively large and may be unfilled. The dough itself forms the dumpling rather than acting as a thin wrapper.
large German or Austrian dumplings commonly made from bread, potato, or flour
Example: The bread knödel soaked up the rich gravy from the roast.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Knödel🇫🇷 French: Knödel
🇩🇪 German: Knödel
🇮🇹 Italian: Canederli
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Knödel
💡 Nuance: Knödel are often relatively large and may be unfilled. The dough itself forms the dumpling rather than acting as a thin wrapper.
🍑 Knedle
Central European dumplings often made from potato dough wrapped around fruit
Example: The plum knedle were coated in buttery toasted breadcrumbs.
🇫🇷 French: Knedle
🇩🇪 German: Knedle
🇮🇹 Italian: Knedle
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Knedle
💡 Nuance: Fruit inside potato-based dough is the useful clue here. These are different from large unfilled bread or potato knödel.
Central European dumplings often made from potato dough wrapped around fruit
Example: The plum knedle were coated in buttery toasted breadcrumbs.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Knedle🇫🇷 French: Knedle
🇩🇪 German: Knedle
🇮🇹 Italian: Knedle
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Knedle
💡 Nuance: Fruit inside potato-based dough is the useful clue here. These are different from large unfilled bread or potato knödel.
🌽 Tamales
Mesoamerican steamed parcels made from masa and cooked inside a husk or leaf
Example: She removed the corn husk before eating the tamal.
🇫🇷 French: Tamales
🇩🇪 German: Tamales
🇮🇹 Italian: Tamales
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tamales
💡 Nuance: The husk or leaf is a cooking wrapper and is normally removed before eating. The edible portion is made from masa, not from a thin wheat wrapper.
Mesoamerican steamed parcels made from masa and cooked inside a husk or leaf
Example: She removed the corn husk before eating the tamal.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Tamales🇫🇷 French: Tamales
🇩🇪 German: Tamales
🇮🇹 Italian: Tamales
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Tamales
💡 Nuance: The husk or leaf is a cooking wrapper and is normally removed before eating. The edible portion is made from masa, not from a thin wheat wrapper.
🥣 Fufu Dumplings
soft portions of cooked African starch shaped by hand and eaten with soup or stew
Example: He pinched off a small piece of fufu and dipped it into the soup.
🇫🇷 French: Foutou / fufu
🇩🇪 German: Fufu
🇮🇹 Italian: Fufu
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fufu
💡 Nuance: There is no separate wrapper or filling. In this broad dumpling lesson, the word refers to a shaped portion of starch eaten with another dish.
soft portions of cooked African starch shaped by hand and eaten with soup or stew
Example: He pinched off a small piece of fufu and dipped it into the soup.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Fufu🇫🇷 French: Foutou / fufu
🇩🇪 German: Fufu
🇮🇹 Italian: Fufu
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fufu
💡 Nuance: There is no separate wrapper or filling. In this broad dumpling lesson, the word refers to a shaped portion of starch eaten with another dish.
🇬🇭 Banku
Ghanaian fermented corn-and-cassava dough served in soft portions
Example: The banku was served beside okra soup and grilled fish.
🇫🇷 French: Banku
🇩🇪 German: Banku
🇮🇹 Italian: Banku
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Banku
💡 Nuance: Fermentation gives banku a characteristic tangy or slightly sour quality. Like fufu, it is a shaped starch rather than a filled pocket.
Ghanaian fermented corn-and-cassava dough served in soft portions
Example: The banku was served beside okra soup and grilled fish.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Banku🇫🇷 French: Banku
🇩🇪 German: Banku
🇮🇹 Italian: Banku
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Banku
💡 Nuance: Fermentation gives banku a characteristic tangy or slightly sour quality. Like fufu, it is a shaped starch rather than a filled pocket.
🔥 Fried Dumplings
general term for dumplings cooked in oil until the exterior becomes crisp
Example: The appetizer platter included deep-fried dumplings with a crunchy wrapper.
🇫🇷 French: Raviolis frits / dumplings frits
🇩🇪 German: Frittierte Dumplings
🇮🇹 Italian: Dumpling fritti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dumplings fritos
💡 Nuance: This phrase describes a cooking method, not one particular cuisine or filling. Deep-fried means the food is submerged in hot oil, while potstickers are usually pan-fried and steamed.
general term for dumplings cooked in oil until the exterior becomes crisp
Example: The appetizer platter included deep-fried dumplings with a crunchy wrapper.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Dumplings fritos🇫🇷 French: Raviolis frits / dumplings frits
🇩🇪 German: Frittierte Dumplings
🇮🇹 Italian: Dumpling fritti
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dumplings fritos
💡 Nuance: This phrase describes a cooking method, not one particular cuisine or filling. Deep-fried means the food is submerged in hot oil, while potstickers are usually pan-fried and steamed.
💧 Boiled Dumplings
general term for dumplings cooked in hot or simmering water
Example: The boiled dumplings were drained and then served with butter and herbs.
🇫🇷 French: Dumplings bouillis
🇩🇪 German: Gekochte Dumplings
🇮🇹 Italian: Dumpling lessati
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dumplings cozidos
💡 Nuance: Boiled dumplings tells you how they were cooked, not what is inside or where they come from. Jiaozi, pelmeni, pierogi, and many other dumplings may be boiled.
general term for dumplings cooked in hot or simmering water
Example: The boiled dumplings were drained and then served with butter and herbs.
Show translations
🇪🇸 Spanish: Dumplings hervidos🇫🇷 French: Dumplings bouillis
🇩🇪 German: Gekochte Dumplings
🇮🇹 Italian: Dumpling lessati
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Dumplings cozidos
💡 Nuance: Boiled dumplings tells you how they were cooked, not what is inside or where they come from. Jiaozi, pelmeni, pierogi, and many other dumplings may be boiled.
🧠 Useful Distinctions
🇯🇵 Gyoza vs. 🍳 Potstickers vs. 🇨🇳 Jiaozi
Jiaozi is the broader Chinese dumpling family. Gyoza is the related Japanese style. Potsticker emphasizes the pan-fry-then-steam cooking method in English.
Jiaozi is the broader Chinese dumpling family. Gyoza is the related Japanese style. Potsticker emphasizes the pan-fry-then-steam cooking method in English.
🥟 Wontons vs. 💧 Xiaolongbao
Wontons are thin-wrapped filled dumplings and may be served in soup. Xiaolongbao contain hot broth inside the dumpling itself.
Wontons are thin-wrapped filled dumplings and may be served in soup. Xiaolongbao contain hot broth inside the dumpling itself.
⭕ Shumai vs. 🦐 Har Gow vs. ⭕ Baozi
Shumai are open-topped dumplings. Har gow are closed shrimp dumplings with translucent wrappers. Baozi use fluffy leavened dough and are more bread-like.
Shumai are open-topped dumplings. Har gow are closed shrimp dumplings with translucent wrappers. Baozi use fluffy leavened dough and are more bread-like.
🇵🇱 Pierogi vs. 🇺🇦 Varenyky vs. 🇷🇺 Pelmeni
Pierogi and varenyky are closely related dumplings with a broad range of savory and sweet fillings. Pelmeni are especially associated with seasoned meat fillings.
Pierogi and varenyky are closely related dumplings with a broad range of savory and sweet fillings. Pelmeni are especially associated with seasoned meat fillings.
🍝 Ravioli vs. 💍 Tortellini vs. 🧀 Gnudi vs. 🥔 Gnocchi
Ravioli and tortellini are stuffed pasta. Gnudi are ricotta-based dumplings without a pasta wrapper. Gnocchi are soft unfilled dumplings commonly made from potato and flour.
Ravioli and tortellini are stuffed pasta. Gnudi are ricotta-based dumplings without a pasta wrapper. Gnocchi are soft unfilled dumplings commonly made from potato and flour.
🍞 Knödel vs. 🍑 Knedle vs. 🇩🇪 Spaetzle
Knödel are often relatively large bread- or potato-based dumplings. Knedle are commonly filled with fruit. Spaetzle are very small soft unfilled pieces that can also be classified as noodles.
Knödel are often relatively large bread- or potato-based dumplings. Knedle are commonly filled with fruit. Spaetzle are very small soft unfilled pieces that can also be classified as noodles.
🌽 Tamales vs. 🥣 Fufu vs. 🇬🇭 Banku
Tamales are made from masa and steamed inside a husk or leaf. Fufu is a soft shaped starch eaten with soups and stews. Banku is a fermented Ghanaian corn-and-cassava preparation. None depends on a thin wheat wrapper.
Tamales are made from masa and steamed inside a husk or leaf. Fufu is a soft shaped starch eaten with soups and stews. Banku is a fermented Ghanaian corn-and-cassava preparation. None depends on a thin wheat wrapper.
💬 Everyday Dumpling Phrases
💧 The broth is inside the xiaolongbao, while wontons may be served in broth.
broth inside vs. broth around the dumpling
🇫🇷 Le bouillon est à l’intérieur du xiaolongbao, tandis que les wontons peuvent être servis dans du bouillon.
🇩🇪 Die Brühe ist im Xiaolongbao, während Wontons in Brühe serviert werden können.
🇮🇹 Il brodo è dentro lo xiaolongbao, mentre i wonton possono essere serviti nel brodo.
🇵🇹 O caldo está dentro do xiaolongbao, enquanto os wontons podem ser servidos em caldo.
broth inside vs. broth around the dumpling
Show translations
🇪🇸 El caldo está dentro del xiaolongbao, mientras que los wontons pueden servirse en caldo.🇫🇷 Le bouillon est à l’intérieur du xiaolongbao, tandis que les wontons peuvent être servis dans du bouillon.
🇩🇪 Die Brühe ist im Xiaolongbao, während Wontons in Brühe serviert werden können.
🇮🇹 Il brodo è dentro lo xiaolongbao, mentre i wonton possono essere serviti nel brodo.
🇵🇹 O caldo está dentro do xiaolongbao, enquanto os wontons podem ser servidos em caldo.
🍳 Potsticker describes the cooking method, while gyoza names a Japanese dumpling style.
method vs. regional style
🇫🇷 Potsticker décrit la méthode de cuisson, tandis que gyoza désigne un style japonais de dumpling.
🇩🇪 Potsticker beschreibt die Garmethode, während Gyoza einen japanischen Dumpling-Stil bezeichnet.
🇮🇹 Potsticker descrive il metodo di cottura, mentre gyoza indica uno stile giapponese di dumpling.
🇵🇹 Potsticker descreve o método de cozimento, enquanto gyoza identifica um estilo japonês de dumpling.
method vs. regional style
Show translations
🇪🇸 Potsticker describe el método de cocción, mientras que gyoza nombra un estilo japonés de dumpling.🇫🇷 Potsticker décrit la méthode de cuisson, tandis que gyoza désigne un style japonais de dumpling.
🇩🇪 Potsticker beschreibt die Garmethode, während Gyoza einen japanischen Dumpling-Stil bezeichnet.
🇮🇹 Potsticker descrive il metodo di cottura, mentre gyoza indica uno stile giapponese di dumpling.
🇵🇹 Potsticker descreve o método de cozimento, enquanto gyoza identifica um estilo japonês de dumpling.
⭕ Baozi have fluffy bread-like dough, while jiaozi have thin wrappers.
bun dough vs. thin dumpling skin
🇫🇷 Les baozi ont une pâte moelleuse semblable au pain, tandis que les jiaozi ont une enveloppe fine.
🇩🇪 Baozi haben einen luftigen, brotähnlichen Teig, während Jiaozi dünne Teighüllen haben.
🇮🇹 I baozi hanno un impasto soffice simile al pane, mentre i jiaozi hanno involucri sottili.
🇵🇹 Os baozi têm uma massa fofa parecida com pão, enquanto os jiaozi têm invólucros finos.
bun dough vs. thin dumpling skin
Show translations
🇪🇸 Los baozi tienen una masa esponjosa parecida al pan, mientras que los jiaozi tienen envolturas finas.🇫🇷 Les baozi ont une pâte moelleuse semblable au pain, tandis que les jiaozi ont une enveloppe fine.
🇩🇪 Baozi haben einen luftigen, brotähnlichen Teig, während Jiaozi dünne Teighüllen haben.
🇮🇹 I baozi hanno un impasto soffice simile al pane, mentre i jiaozi hanno involucri sottili.
🇵🇹 Os baozi têm uma massa fofa parecida com pão, enquanto os jiaozi têm invólucros finos.
🇵🇱 Pierogi is already the Polish plural form, although pierogies is also heard in North American English.
formal food vocabulary vs. everyday regional English
🇫🇷 Pierogi est déjà la forme plurielle polonaise, même si pierogies s’entend aussi en anglais nord-américain.
🇩🇪 Pierogi ist bereits die polnische Pluralform, obwohl man im nordamerikanischen Englisch auch pierogies hört.
🇮🇹 Pierogi è già la forma plurale polacca, anche se pierogies si sente anche nell’inglese nordamericano.
🇵🇹 Pierogi já é a forma plural polonesa, embora pierogies também seja ouvido no inglês norte-americano.
formal food vocabulary vs. everyday regional English
Show translations
🇪🇸 Pierogi ya es la forma plural polaca, aunque pierogies también se oye en el inglés norteamericano.🇫🇷 Pierogi est déjà la forme plurielle polonaise, même si pierogies s’entend aussi en anglais nord-américain.
🇩🇪 Pierogi ist bereits die polnische Pluralform, obwohl man im nordamerikanischen Englisch auch pierogies hört.
🇮🇹 Pierogi è già la forma plurale polacca, anche se pierogies si sente anche nell’inglese nordamericano.
🇵🇹 Pierogi já é a forma plural polonesa, embora pierogies também seja ouvido no inglês norte-americano.
🏆 Final Practice
English in the Real World:
Imagine you are reading a dumpling-house menu, shopping in an international grocery store, or following a recipe. Choose the dumpling word that best fits each situation.
Imagine you are reading a dumpling-house menu, shopping in an international grocery store, or following a recipe. Choose the dumpling word that best fits each situation.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%