The exact spelling appears at position 7,406 in the cited OpenSubtitles-derived Dutch 50k token list. That is a corpus signal, not search volume, CEFR level or proof that the noun sense is equally frequent. Article, forms, glosses, pronunciation and examples are adapted from English Wiktionary via Kaikki under CC BY-SA 4.0. See sources and modifications.
How pasta is pronounced
IPA: /ˈpɑs.taː/ · Syllables: pas·ta
Say the article and noun together—de pasta—before practising the word in a sentence. This keeps grammatical gender attached to the item you retrieve. Regional speech and sentence rhythm can change the surface sound, so use the transcription as a compact reference rather than as a substitute for listening.
What pasta means
paste
Dictionary label: feminine
An English gloss identifies a sense, not a one-word substitution that works in every context. Look at the surrounding verb, preposition, number and situation in the Dutch example. When several meanings are listed, practise one meaning at a time and state a concrete context before changing to another sense.
Article, plural and diminutive
| Form | Dutch | Speaking use |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | de pasta | Retrieve the article and noun as one chunk. |
| Plural | de pasta's | Dutch plural nouns take de; also change the verb and quantity where needed. |
| Diminutive | pastaatje | A smaller, familiar or context-specific form; use only when the meaning fits. |
Do not guess the article from the English translation. Learn de pasta as a single unit, then contrast it with de pasta's. A diminutive normally uses het, but its pragmatic meaning can be neutral, literal, affectionate or dismissive depending on context.
Translated examples with pasta
1596, Jan Huyghen van Linschoten, Itinerario, voyage ofte schipvaert naer Oost ofte Portugaels Indien 1579-1592, part 2, publ. by Martinus Nijhoff (1956), page 147. Het eerste noemen die AEgyptenaren assis, 'twelc is poyer van kennep ofte hennep bladeren, met water tot een pasta ofte deegh ghemaect, daer af zy vijf ofte meer stucxkens eten, so groot als castanien, van 't vvelcke de ghene, die sulcks ghegheten hebben, een ure daernae niet anders worden dan of zy droncken waren, met ontsinnigheyt; worden van selfs gelijc oft zy opgetrocken waren, ende haer verschynen vremde ghesichten, daer in zy groote vermakelickheyt hebben.
The first one the Egyptians call hashish, which is a powder of cannabis or hemp leaves, made into a paste or dough with water, of which they eat five or more pieces as big as chestnuts, from which those who have eaten such, become for an hour thereafter nothing but as if they were drunk, with senselessness; [they] become on their own as if they are in an exalted state, and strange visions appear to them, in which they have great amusement.
These examples are citation-backed language data. First identify what the noun refers to and which words determine or describe it. Then change only one element—person, quantity, time, place or description—while keeping the article and number consistent. That small variation turns a reference example into active speaking practice without inventing a rule from one sentence.
Four-step speaking drill
- Say de pasta three times, then add one adjective or location that fits the first meaning.
- Build a present-tense sentence with a named person, a concrete place and the singular noun.
- Change the message to de pasta's. Update the number, determiner and finite verb instead of replacing only the noun ending.
- Ask a follow-up question containing the noun, record the answer, and repeat once with a different detail.
Listen first for meaning and article choice, then for sentence order and pronunciation. Correct the first error that changes the message or blocks the listener. Avoid restarting for every small hesitation: complete the message, note one target, and make the second recording more precise.
Self-check before you continue
- I retrieve de pasta as one chunk.
- The singular or plural matches the determiner, quantity and verb.
- The selected meaning fits the situation.
- The sentence includes enough detail for another person to understand the reference.
- I can ask and answer one question with the noun without reading the page.
Questions about pasta
What does pasta mean?
paste.
Is it de pasta or het pasta?
The cited entry uses de pasta. Keep the article attached when learning and retrieving the noun.
What is the plural of pasta?
The cited plural is pasta's. In a full sentence, also check the determiner, quantity and verb.
Use pasta in a recorded response
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