How to pronounce pasta
Say it like PAH-stuh. Pasta has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pasta. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAH
- stuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Americans say 'PAH-stuh'; Britons usually say 'PASS-tuh'.
Pasta pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- stuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pasta
American and British speakers say pasta in essentially the same way: /ˈpɑstə/ in the US and /ˈpæstə/ in the UK.
British respelling: PAS-tuh.
What does pasta mean?
- a dish that contains pasta as its main ingredient
- shaped and dried dough made from flour and water and sometimes egg
Questions about saying pasta
How do you pronounce pasta?
Say PAH-stuh. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɑstə/. In British English it is /ˈpæstə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pasta?
Pasta has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAH). Broken into parts: PAH · stuh.
Do Americans and Brits say pasta the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpɑstə/ and the British form is /ˈpæstə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.