Spanish Conversation · Level 85
60 words
Spanish word
ñoquis
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈɲokis/
Meaning
- masculine noungnocchi
Example
¿Quieres ñoquis para cenar?
Do you want gnocchi for dinner?
More examples
Mi abuela siempre sirve ñoquis caseros los domingos.
My grandmother always serves homemade gnocchi on Sundays.
Core concept
A ghosted name on a payroll list.
Common phrases
cenar ñoquis
have gnocchi for dinner
ñoquis caseros
homemade gnocchi
salsa para ñoquis
sauce for gnocchi
Similar words
empleado fantasma: Person listed on a payroll who receives pay despite not actually performing work.
parásito: Person who exploits an organization or others to gain benefits while contributing nothing.
Definition in Spanish
Término coloquial, sobre todo en países sudamericanos, para una persona que figura en la nómina y cobra sin realizar tareas; por extensión, también nombre del plato de masa cocida conocido como ñoqui.
Word origin
Derived from Italian gnocchi for the pasta dish; in Latin American colloquial speech the dish name became a metaphor for someone who is on the payroll but does not perform duties.
Usage tips
- In Argentina and Uruguay the slang sense is common in labor and political talk, and using 'ñoqui' about a colleague can be read as a serious accusation.
Other meanings
- ghost employeenoun