chipolata: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1culinary, everyday (BrE), formal/international menus
Quick answer
What does “chipolata” mean?
A thin, finely ground pork sausage, typically sold raw and often served roasted.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thin, finely ground pork sausage, typically sold raw and often served roasted.
Can refer to the sausage itself, a dish containing the sausage, or (less commonly) by analogy, any similarly long, thin object.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Standard term in British English for a specific type of sausage. In American English, largely unknown or recognized only as a British/European menu item. The closest common American equivalent is a 'breakfast link' or 'small pork sausage', though these are not precise synonyms.
Connotations
BrE: Traditional, festive (Christmas), familiar. AmE: Exotic, foreign, specialty menu item.
Frequency
High frequency in UK culinary contexts; very low to zero in general AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “chipolata” in a Sentence
Serve [with X]Wrap [in bacon]Roast [for X minutes]Buy [a packet of] chipolatasVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chipolata” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- A chipolata sausage
- a chipolata-thin candle
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in food import/export or hospitality supply.
Academic
Rare, except in culinary history or cultural studies.
Everyday
Common in UK home cooking and supermarket shopping contexts.
Technical
Used in butchery and food production specifications.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chipolata”
- Using as a plural uncountably (e.g., 'some chipolata' instead of 'some chipolatas').
- Confusing with 'chorizo'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Chipolatas are raw, finely ground pork sausages, typically seasoned with herbs, and cooked by roasting or grilling. Hot dogs are pre-cooked, smoked sausages, usually eaten reheated in a bun.
Yes, they are commonly added to casseroles, stews, or traybakes, where they roast in the juices.
The word comes from the Italian 'cipollata', which originally meant a dish cooked with onions (from 'cipolla' meaning onion), but the meaning shifted to refer to the sausage itself in French and then English.
Traditionally, yes. Modern variations may include chicken, beef, or vegetarian alternatives, but these are deviations from the classic definition.
A thin, finely ground pork sausage, typically sold raw and often served roasted.
Chipolata is usually culinary, everyday (bre), formal/international menus in register.
Chipolata: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃɪpəˈlɑːtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃɪpəˈlɑːtə/ or /ˌtʃɪpəˈlɑdə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"He's a chipolata" (BrE slang, humorous/derogatory: implying someone is insignificant or thin).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "CHIP" like a small piece, and "POLATA" sounds like "polite," but it's a polite, small sausage for a fancy plate.
Conceptual Metaphor
LONG, THIN OBJECT IS A CHIPOLATA (e.g., 'He held a chipolata of a pencil').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'chipolata' most likely used?