al dente
adverb/phrase | /al dente/
Foreign Words & PhrasesItalianEASY
cooked so that food (especially pasta) is still firm to the bite
Literal meaning:
"to the tooth"
al dente
adverb/phrase | /al dente/
Foreign Words & PhrasesItalianEASYcooked so that food (especially pasta) is still firm to the bite
Literal meaning:
"to the tooth"
Learning Progress
Examples
"Boil the spaghetti until it is perfectly al dente."
"He prefers his vegetables cooked al dente rather than mushy."
Mnemonic Trick
Al dente = to the tooth → pleasantly firm when bitten
Source: Foreign Words & PhrasesAdded: 9/28/2025
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