Pasta shapes are an important part of Italian cuisine, and there are many varieties to choose from. The most common pasta shapes are BOWS (4 letters), elbos (5 letters), and SPIRALS (7 letters). BOWS are small, curved pieces of pasta that resemble a bow tie. Elbos are short, curved pieces of pasta that look like an elbow. SPIRALS are long, twisted pieces of pasta that look like a spiral staircase. All three shapes are popular in Italian dishes and can be used in a variety of recipes.