Portuguese · Food & Drink
"Pasta" in Portuguese: macarrão / massa
o macarrão / a massa
Note: PT-PT: a massa
Pasta in Brazilian Portuguese is usually o macarrão. A massa also appears, and in European Portuguese a massa is the everyday word for pasta.
Home dinner
Hoje o jantar é macarrão com molho de tomate.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce macarrão / massa
Say it
mah-kah-HOWN / MAH-sah
/ˈmasa/, /ma.ka.ˈʁɐ̃w̃/
mah-kah-HOWN (nasal ão). Massa is MAH-sah.
"Pasta" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| o macarrão | pasta / noodles (Brazil) Everyday Brazilian default. | Everyday Brazilian default. |
| a massa | pasta / dough Also used; primary in PT-PT. | Also used; primary in PT-PT. |
| macarrão ao molho | pasta with sauce Dish talk. | Dish talk. |
| macarrão instantâneo | instant noodles Quick meal. | Quick meal. |
| massa fresca | fresh pasta Restaurant/gourmet. | Restaurant/gourmet. |
How to use macarrão / massa in real life
- 1Home dinner
Hoje o jantar é macarrão com molho de tomate.
Dinner tonight is pasta with tomato sauce.
Brazilian default macarrão.
- 2Shopping
Pega um pacote de macarrão integral, por favor.
Grab a pack of whole-wheat pasta, please.
Grocery.
- 3Restaurant (noting PT-PT)
Em Portugal o cardápio diz massa; no Brasil peço macarrão.
In Portugal the menu says massa; in Brazil I order macarrão.
PT-PT: a massa is the everyday pasta word.
Mistakes English speakers make with macarrão / massa
Incorrect: A macarrão.
Correct: O macarrão.
Macarrão is masculine.
Incorrect: Quero pasta (English) no restaurante brasileiro.
Correct: Quero macarrão.
In Brazil say macarrão; pasta as English may not land.
Good to know
In Brazil macarrão covers spaghetti and many noodle dishes at home. Massa can mean pasta or dough (pizza dough too). In Portugal, menus lean on a massa for pasta—worth knowing when you travel.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing a quick dinner
ChatPal
Macarrão ou arroz hoje?
Pasta or rice today?
You
Macarrão. Quero algo rápido.
Pasta. I want something fast.
ChatPal
Tenho macarrão penne na despensa.
I have penne pasta in the pantry.
You
Perfeito. Macarrão al dente, sem exagero de sal.
Perfect. Pasta al dente, without too much salt.
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 Portuguese
Macarrão or massa in Brazil?
Macarrão is the everyday default; massa also appears.
What about Portugal?
PT-PT commonly uses a massa for pasta.
Masculine or feminine?
Macarrão is masculine; massa is feminine.
Instant noodles?
Macarrão instantâneo / miojo in casual speech.
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
