pasta
Lemma Details
Translation: pasta; dough; paste; money; cash
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'pasta' meaning 'dough, paste', which came from Greek 'pastē' (πάστη) meaning 'barley porridge'. The English word 'paste' shares this same origin. In Spanish, 'pasta' evolved to also mean 'money' or 'cash' in colloquial usage, likely because paper money was seen as similar to paste or pulp in its manufacturing process.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral (for food); informal (for money)
Mnemonics
- For the food meaning, think of Italian pasta dishes which are made from dough.
- For the money meaning, imagine cash being made from the same pulp as paste.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spain and many Latin American countries, 'pasta' is commonly used colloquially to refer to money, while it also retains its meaning as the food. The money meaning is particularly common in informal speech in Spain.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Pasta' means pasta, dough, or money, while 'pasto' means pasture or grass for grazing.
Confused word:
Las vacas están en el pasto.
The cows are in the pasture.
Notes: These words sound similar but have completely different meanings and contexts.
Mnemonic: 'Pasta' ends with 'a' like 'pasta' in English; 'pasto' ends with 'o' like 'meadow'.
Explanation: 'Pasta' refers to pasta or money, while 'pastel' means cake or pastry.
Notes: Both words relate to food but refer to completely different types of food items.
Mnemonic: Think of 'pastel' as having the extra 'el' at the end, making it something extra sweet like a cake.