The Italian staple known as pasta comes in an almost infinite variety of shapes and textures. English-speaking diners may be unaware that the traditional names of these varieties usually describe their appearance in terms of some everyday object, often a strikingly unappetizing one.

Spaghetti—little strings

Vermicelli—little worms

Linguine—little tongues

Botticelli—little boxes

Lamborghini—little lambs

Mussolini—little mice

Vittorioemanuelini—little Victor Emmanuels

Portatili—little computers

Samovaretti—little samovars

Guarnizionette—little gaskets

Erpetologini—little herpetologists

Radiatori—radiators