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DictionarywontonChinese dumpling
noun / adjective

wonton

WAHN-tahn/ˈwɑːntɑːn/

A Chinese dumpling with a filling wrapped in thin dough.

The cut wonton reveals its filling inside a thin wrapper.

A close view of boiled wontons with thin, softly wrinkled wrappers and folded corners, including one cut open to reveal seasoned minced meat and vegetables.
Etymology
wontonCantonesestuffed dumpling

Wonton is said to come from Cantonese wan t'an, “stuffed dumpling.” The name describes the filled dumpling itself, rather than specifying a particular meat or vegetable filling.

In context

Chinese Cooking Demystified0:53
Second, you want it to have some body – this isn’t a gossamer thin wonton after all, the starch is part of the experience.
The key to great dumplings

More examples

  • She folded the thin wonton wrapper around the filling.
  • The cook steamed a tray of wontons.
  • We ordered wonton soup.

Forms

wonton · wontons

Similar words

dumpling
Dumpling is the broad category; wonton identifies a particular Chinese filled dumpling.
jiaozi
Jiaozi are another Chinese dumpling, typically with thicker wrappers and a different shape.