scolapasta
The English phrase 'pasta strainer' is scolapasta in Italian.
The term refers to a kitchen utensil used to drain water from cooked pasta.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of scola (from scolare, meaning to drain) and pasta (meaning pasta).
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the definite article, use lo for the singular form (lo scolapasta) and gli for the plural form (gli scolapasta). The article lo is used for the singular because the word begins with an 's' followed by a consonant.
Did you know?
- In some traditional Italian kitchens, the scolapasta is bypassed entirely by using a schiumarella, a slotted spoon used to lift pasta directly from the water into the sauce.
- The word pasta comes from the Greek pastē, which referred to a mixture of flour and water. This means the scolapasta is technically a tool for straining any dough-based food, not just the noodles we call 'pasta' today.
- In some regions of Italy, if you are asking for a strainer specifically for pasta, you might hear people refer to it more broadly as a colino, which is a diminutive used for smaller-scale straining.
Examples in context
- Mi passi lo scolapasta, per favore?Could you pass me the pasta strainer, please?
- Passami lo scolapasta, per favore.Pass me the pasta strainer, please.
- Dove hai messo lo scolapasta?Where did you put the pasta strainer?
- Lo scolapasta è sporco.The pasta strainer is dirty.
Example conversation
A couple is cooking dinner together in a kitchen.
- FrancescoMartina, puoi prendermi lo scolapasta?Martina, can you get me the pasta strainer?
- MartinaSì, Francesco, eccolo.Yes, Francesco, here it is.
- FrancescoGrazie, ora scolo la pasta.Thanks, now I'll drain the pasta.
- MartinaPerfetto, è quasi pronta.Perfect, it is almost ready.
