arancini

plural noun

aran·​ci·​ni ˌä-rän-ˈchē-nē 

: rounded balls of cooked rice with savory fillings (such as mozzarella cheese) that are coated with bread crumbs and deep-fried

The lobster arancini and pureed potato croquettes captured his attention, and the pork and beef meatballs were worthy of a "best of" medal in Schaffer's eyes.

—Dana Hatic

Examples of arancini in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Just as good are the massive arancini, stuffed with a meaty ragù, mozzarella, and baby peas. —Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026

Folks flock here from all over to feast on classics like arancini and vastedda (Sicilian-style sandwiches). —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026

From risotto arancini to rich Italian hot chocolate, these cozy dishes are perfect for a winter gathering at home. —Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026

Work up an appetite at the nearby Collezione di Pupi Siciliani before pulling up one of Orazio Cordai’s terrace chairs (the dense, crispy arancini are also wildly tasty). —Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, plural of arancino, literally, "little orange," from arancio "orange" (borrowed from Arabic nāranj, with misdivision of the Italian article un) + -ino, diminutive suffix (going back to Latin -īnus, suffix of appurtenance) — more at orange entry 1, -ine entry 1

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for arancini

• antonine
• aubergine
• celestine
• cytosine
• emetine
• infantine
• johannine
• kerosine
• kundalini
• nepheline
• phenelzine
• proserpine