Orecchiette (Italian pronunciation: [orekˈkjɛtte]; singular orecchietta; from Italian orecchia, meaning 'ear', and -etta, meaning 'small') are a variety of pasta typical of Apulia, a region of southern Italy. Their name comes from their shape, which resembles a small ear. In the vernacular of Taranto it is called recchietedd, or chiancaredd.