zucchini: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral (common in everyday and culinary contexts)
Quick answer
What does “zucchini” mean?
A long, thin, green summer squash with soft, edible seeds and skin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, thin, green summer squash with soft, edible seeds and skin.
The immature fruit of the Cucurbita pepo plant, harvested and eaten as a vegetable; also used metaphorically to describe something slender or rapidly growing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, 'zucchini' is the standard term. In British English, 'courgette' is the standard term, with 'zucchini' recognized but less common, often seen in international recipes or influenced by American media.
Connotations
In the US, it has neutral, culinary connotations. In the UK, 'zucchini' can sound slightly Americanized or technical compared to the familiar 'courgette'.
Frequency
High frequency in US English; medium-low frequency in UK English, where 'courgette' dominates.
Grammar
How to Use “zucchini” in a Sentence
[verb] + zucchini (e.g., slice, grate, grill)[adjective] + zucchini (e.g., overgrown, tender)zucchini + [verb] (e.g., zucchini grows, zucchini shrivels)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “zucchini” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- The recipe called for zucchini flowers, which are also edible.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in agricultural trade, food import/export, or culinary supply chains.
Academic
Rare, except in botany, horticulture, or culinary science papers.
Everyday
Very common, especially in cooking, gardening, shopping, and diet conversations.
Technical
Used in botanical classification (Cucurbita pepo) and agricultural contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “zucchini”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “zucchini”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “zucchini”
- Misspelling as 'zuchini' or 'zucchinni'.
- Using it as an uncountable noun when referring to multiple individual fruits (e.g., 'I bought three zucchini').
- Confusing with cucumber in description due to similar shape and color.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no botanical difference; they are different names for the same vegetable. 'Zucchini' is American English, 'courgette' is British English.
Yes, young, tender zucchini can be eaten raw, often sliced or grated in salads. Larger ones are better cooked.
Botanically, it is a fruit (the swollen ovary of a flower), but culinarily and legally, it is treated and used as a vegetable.
The standard plural is 'zucchinis'. While sometimes used as a mass noun (e.g., 'some zucchini'), the countable plural is most common.
A long, thin, green summer squash with soft, edible seeds and skin.
Zucchini is usually neutral (common in everyday and culinary contexts) in register.
Zucchini: in British English it is pronounced /zuːˈkiː.ni/, and in American English it is pronounced /zuˈki.ni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Zoo' + 'keen' + 'ee' – imagine a keen little green vegetable running around a zoo.
Conceptual Metaphor
GROWTH IS RAPID PROLIFERATION ('My inbox is like zucchini in August – it multiplies overnight.')
Practice
Quiz
Which term is the British English equivalent of 'zucchini'?