Definition

A type of Italian sausage that is made from ground pork and beef, mixed with pieces of pork fat, and flavored with various spices and sometimes wine.

Example

I love adding slices of mortadella to my sandwiches for extra flavor.

Conversation

Have you ever tried mortadella?

Yes, I love it! It's so flavorful.

I just had some on a sandwich, and it was amazing.

That sounds delicious! I need to get some soon.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mortadella is derived from the Latin word "mortarium" (meaning mortar) and the suffix "-ella" (a diminutive suffix). The term originally referred to a type of sausage that was ground in a mortar, hence the connection to the word for mortar. The word reflects the method of preparation for this Italian cured meat.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'mortar' which relates to how the sausage was originally made — ground in a mortar — and remember that 'mortadella' is a type of sausage.

Visually Confused Words