al dente
/al dente/from spelling rules
The English phrase "firm" is expressed in Spanish as al dente.
In Spanish, al dente is used specifically to describe pasta or rice that has been cooked so that it remains firm to the bite.
Meaning: firm (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a loanword from Italian meaning "to the tooth", referring to the resistance felt when biting into pasta.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is invariable, meaning it does not change for gender or number even if the noun it modifies is plural or feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/al dente/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, if your pasta is overcooked and mushy, you might complain that it está pasado, which literally translates to saying it has 'passed' or 'gone beyond' its ideal state.
- While al dente is used for pasta, Spanish speakers use the word al punto to describe meat cooked to a perfect medium doneness.
- To describe pasta that has been overcooked and lost its firmness, Spanish speakers use the phrase está pasado, meaning it has 'passed' its ideal state.
Examples in context
- Me gusta la pasta al punto, ni muy blanda ni muy dura.I like pasta cooked just right, neither too soft nor too hard.
- Me encanta la pasta cuando está en su punto, ¡no demasiado blanda!I love pasta when it's cooked just right, not too soft!
- Prefiero la pasta al dente.I prefer pasta al dente.
- Cocina el arroz al dente, por favor.Cook the rice al dente, please.
- La pasta quedó perfectamente al dente.The pasta turned out perfectly al dente.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are cooking dinner together.
- SofíaAlejandro, ¿está la pasta lista?Alejandro, is the pasta ready?
- AlejandroSí, está al dente.Yes, it is firm.
- SofíaPerfecto, así es como me gusta.Perfect, that is how I like it.
- AlejandroEntonces voy a colarla ahora.Then I am going to drain it now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
