Italian · Food & Drink
"Pasta" in Italian: pasta
la pasta
Pasta in Italian is la pasta (lah PAHS-tah). It means pasta dishes and the dry product. Un piatto di pasta is a serving.
Dinner plan
Stasera faccio la pasta al pesto.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce pasta
Say it
PAHS-tah
/ˈpas.ta/
Pasta is PAHS-tah. Stress PAHS. Keep both a's clear.
"Pasta" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la pasta | pasta The food in general. | The food in general. |
| un piatto di pasta | a plate of pasta A serving. | A serving. |
| pasta fresca | fresh pasta Vs dry pasta secca. | Vs dry pasta secca. |
| cuocere la pasta | to cook the pasta Kitchen talk. | Kitchen talk. |
How to use pasta in real life
- 1Dinner plan
Stasera faccio la pasta al pesto.
Tonight I'm making pasta with pesto.
La pasta.
- 2Cooking time
La pasta è al dente tra due minuti.
The pasta is al dente in two minutes.
La pasta subject.
- 3Shopping
Compra un pacco di pasta corta.
Buy a pack of short pasta.
Di pasta.
Mistakes English speakers make with pasta
Incorrect: Le paste (for one meal of pasta).
Correct: La pasta.
Meal talk usually keeps singular la pasta.
Incorrect: Il pasta.
Correct: La pasta.
Pasta is feminine.
Good to know
Pasta is daily comfort food, not only a restaurant dish. Italians argue gently about cooking time and sauce pairings, and al dente is a real preference, not a slogan.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing dinner
ChatPal
Vuoi la pasta o il riso?
Do you want pasta or rice?
You
La pasta, con poco sale nell'acqua.
Pasta, with little salt in the water.
ChatPal
Ok. Butto la pasta quando bolle forte.
Ok. I'll throw the pasta in when it boils hard.
You
Perfetto. Scola la pasta e aggiungi l'olio.
Perfect. Drain the pasta and add the oil.
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 Italian
Is pasta plural?
As food it is usually singular la pasta.
What is al dente?
Firm to the bite—standard preference.
Fresh vs dry?
Pasta fresca vs pasta secca.
How do I order?
Una pasta al… or un piatto di pasta.
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
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