Which one should you use?
Using Quiero pastel without an article implies a desire for the substance or type of food in general. In contrast, Quiero un pastel refers to a specific whole cake.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional preferences for the word for cake vary: • In Mexico, Quiero pastel is commonly used. • In Spain, you might say Me apetece tarta or Quiero tarta, as the word tarta is more common than pastel there. • In Argentina, the phrase Tengo ganas de comer torta is used to indicate a craving for cake. • In some Latin American regions, such as the Caribbean and Mexico, Quiero bizcocho can be used to refer to sponge cake or similar sweet baked goods.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can use the indefinite article un to change the meaning to "I want a cake" (Quiero un pastel). To express a desire for multiple cakes, change pastel to the plural pasteles (Quiero pasteles).
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾo pastel/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking for pastel during a birthday celebration is not just about the food, but a signal for the singing of birthday songs and the 'mordida' tradition of pushing someone's face into the cake.
- In Argentina, the word torta is the standard term for cake, whereas in Mexico, torta refers to a popular sandwich made on a crusty roll.
- The Spanish word pastel is a cognate of the English word 'pastel', which refers to a soft colored crayon. Both words share a common ancestor in the Latin word pastellum, meaning a small paste or dough.
Examples in context
- Quiero pastel de chocolate.I want chocolate cake.
- Quiero pastel para mi cumpleaños.I want cake for my birthday.
- Ahora mismo quiero pastel.I want cake right now.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are deciding what to eat for dessert.
- DanielQuiero pastel, Lucía.I want cake, Lucía.
- Lucía¿De qué sabor quieres el pastel?What flavor cake do you want?
- DanielQuiero pastel de fresa.I want strawberry cake.
- LucíaEstá bien, Daniel, vamos a comprarlo.Okay, Daniel, let's go buy it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pastel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
