German · Food & Drink
"Pasta" in German: Nudeln / Pasta
die Nudeln / die Pasta
Pasta in German is die Nudeln or die Pasta. Home cooks often say Nudeln; restaurant menus may say Pasta. Both count as the headword.
Weeknight dinner
Heute gibt es Nudeln mit Pesto.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Nudeln / Pasta
Say it
NOO-deln
/ˈnuːdl̩n/
NOO-deln / PAH-stah. Soft s in Pasta.
"Pasta" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| die Nudeln | pasta / noodles Everyday home word. | Everyday home word. |
| die Pasta | pasta Menu and Italian-style talk. | Menu and Italian-style talk. |
| Nudeln kochen | to cook pasta Kitchen verb phrase. | Kitchen verb phrase. |
| Nudelsalat | pasta salad Party classic. | Party classic. |
How to use Nudeln / Pasta in real life
- 1Weeknight dinner
Heute gibt es Nudeln mit Pesto.
Today we're having pasta with pesto.
Nudeln.
- 2Restaurant order
Ich nehme die Pasta mit Tomatensoße.
I'll take the pasta with tomato sauce.
Pasta alternative.
- 3Cooking tip
Salz das Wasser, bevor die Nudeln rein.
Salt the water before the pasta goes in.
Die Nudeln.
Mistakes English speakers make with Nudeln / Pasta
Incorrect: der Nudeln
Correct: die Nudeln
Nudeln takes die (plural).
Incorrect: eine Nudeln
Correct: Nudeln / eine Portion Nudeln
Nudeln is plural; portionize if you need singular.
Good to know
Nudeln is the default home word; Pasta sounds a bit more restaurant or Italian-night. German kitchens lean hard on Nudeln mit Soße for quick dinners.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing dinner
ChatPal
Nudeln oder Reis?
Pasta or rice?
You
Nudeln. Hast du noch Pasta im Schrank?
Pasta. Do you still have pasta in the cupboard?
ChatPal
Ja, Penne. Die Nudeln kochen acht Minuten.
Yes, penne. The pasta cooks eight minutes.
You
Perfekt. Ich rühre die Pasta um.
Perfect. I'll stir the pasta.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Pasta" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Pasta" in German
Nudeln or Pasta?
Both are headword options; Nudeln is more everyday at home.
How to order?
Ich hätte gern Pasta / Nudeln…
Pasta salad?
Nudelsalat.
Are Nudeln plural?
Yes — die Nudeln.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
