Giada De Laurentiis is used to having the internet poke fun at her—from her chocolate pasta recipe to her picture-perfect food styling. But one of the quirks fans have never let go of is her signature pronunciation of “spaghetti,” which she says with authentic Italian flair: spa-GHEH-tee.
Giada De Laurentiis Explains Her Pronunciation of Italian Dishes
Now, the former Food Network star is setting the record straight. In a recent Instagram Reel, De Laurentiis explained why she has always pronounced Italian dishes the way she does.
“I moved here in elementary school from Rome,” De Laurentiis said. “I really didn’t speak any English, and I flunked the first grade. I couldn’t practice at home because my parents insisted that we speak Italian.”
She added that her household revolved around “Italian food and culture,” so when she began her Food Network career, changing her pronunciation never even crossed her mind. “Also, my family probably would’ve killed me if I hadn’t pronounced them the right way,” she joked.
What surprised her most was the backlash. “It really surprised me,” De Laurentiis continued. “The emotion that it elicits out of people who watch my shows…I get asked all the time to pronounce words and dishes—it’s hilarious to me.”
Fans Support the Food Network Star’s Authentic Pronunciation
While some viewers have criticized her for years, many fans applauded De Laurentiis for sticking to her roots. “I love the way you pronounce them! Authentic!!” one Instagram user commented. Another added, “Why wouldn’t someone who’s Italian say the Italian word correctly 😂. It’s also so beautiful ❤️🇮🇹.”
Others admitted her authentic Italian taught them how to say the words correctly. “You should definitely pronounce them the way they were meant to be said! We love to hear them that way. Started cooking because of you!” a fan wrote.
It seems the “Everyday Italian” host has finally put the debate to rest—or at least earned some vindication from loyal supporters.
Giada De Laurentiis Reflects on Her Food Network Career
In another recent Instagram video, De Laurentiis also opened up about how her career began. After working as a private chef and food stylist, she landed in Food & Wine magazine, which caught the attention of Food Network executive Bob Tuschman.
“My brother shot me and we put a little demo reel together of me making a béchamel,” De Laurentiis recalled. “And they loved it. And so that’s how we started ‘Everyday Italian.’ And I did that for seven years.”
“Everyday Italian” premiered in 2003 and ran for 12 seasons, leading to other hit shows including “Giada Entertains,” “Giada’s Holiday Handbook,” and “Giada in Italy.” Since leaving Food Network in 2023, De Laurentiis has turned her focus to her lifestyle brand Giadzy, released her cookbook “Super-Italian,” and returned to screens this year with the Prime Video special “Giada in My Kitchen.”
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