No, not that kind of pasta. Although pasta in Spanish is actually… pasta, it can also have another meaning. Youngsters (note: in Spain) often use the word pasta as a synonym for dinero, money. Where some people would use the words ‘dosh’ or ‘dough’ in English, the word pasta is used in the same context in Spanish.
Note: this is a slang expression and mainly, if not only, used in Spain. If someone deserves to be treated with respect you shouldn’t use this word. In that case, just use dinero.
Sentences
Ese tío tiene mucha pasta.
That dude has a lot money.
No puedo ir al cine porque no tengo pasta.
I can’t go to the cinema because I have no money.
Esta noche voy a hacer de canguro de mis sobrinos. A ver si saco algo de pasta.
This evening I’m going to babysit my nephews. Lets see if it pays some dough.
Related Posts:
Spanish Word of the Day: flipar
Spanish Word of the Day: morro
Spanish Word of the Day: guiri
Spanish Word of the Day: joder
Spanish Word of the Day: vago
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve never heard anyone use ‘dosh’ before, though I live in Texas and that may be a British slang term. Over heard I’ve heard plenty of other words for money including the Spanish “dinero.”
Peter’s last blog post..Language Learning Tip #1: Start A Translation Project
‘Dosh’ is a well understood in the UK, along with ‘dough’, ‘bread’, etc.
Graham’s last blog post..Una cigarra por la noche
Don’t forget about the other common use for pasta, which is to mean the noun, ‘paste’.
Thomas’s last blog post..Word of the Day: Guanacaste
“Pasta” also designates the sort of pastries eaten in the UK along with the tea (at 5 o’clock should I say?). Just a sweet sort of cookies for you to offer as a host at a teatime party. Here they sell something that resembles a lot to the UK stuff and in Spain is called “Pasta”, “pastas” or “pastitas”. (Spaniards please correct me if I’m wrong!)
there’s also the “pasta italiana” …Italian pasta (spaghetti, ravioli, to name a pair)