pasta de dientes
/pasta de djentes/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English word toothpaste is translated into Spanish as pasta de dientes. Wiktionary also lists crema/pasta dental/dentaria/dentífrica and dentífrico.
Meaning: paste for cleaning the teeth (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pasta de dientes | /pasta de djentes/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| crema/pasta dental/dentaria/dentífrica | feminine | |
| dentífrico | /denˈtifɾiko/ | masculine |
| kolinos | /kolinos/ (from spelling rules) | Bolivia, masculine |
| kolynos | /kolinos/ (from spelling rules) | South America, masculine |
All forms of this word refer to the paste used for cleaning the teeth.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase pasta de dientes is a literal construction meaning paste of teeth.
Which one should you use?
Pasta de dientes is the most common, everyday way to say toothpaste. In contrast, dentífrico is a slightly more formal or technical term. The words crema dental, pasta dental and pasta dentífrica also serve as ways to refer to the product.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Bolivia, the colloquial term kolinos is used. In parts of South America, the colloquial term kolynos is also used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase pasta de dientes and the variants crema/pasta dental/dentaria/dentífrica are feminine, whereas the single-word alternative dentífrico is masculine.
Did you know?
- The term dentífrico is derived from the Latin 'dens' for 'tooth' and 'frico' from 'fricare' meaning 'to rub'.
- In Bolivia and parts of South America, people may say kolinos or kolynos instead of pasta de dientes. This is a genericized trademark derived from the brand name Kolynos.
- The word pasta in pasta de dientes shares an ancient Greek ancestor, pastós, which means 'cooked' or 'kneaded'.
Examples in context
- Compré champú y dentífrico.I bought shampoo and toothpaste.This sentence shows how to use dentífrico in a list of purchased items.Tatoeba #6569843 by arh, translation #6569111 by CK
- Tom olvidó comprar dentífrico.Tom forgot to buy toothpaste.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of dentífrico in a sentence about forgetting an item.Tatoeba #7863574 by Seael, translation #7732807 by CK
- ¿Dónde está la pasta de dientes?Where's the toothpaste?This sentence is useful for asking for the location of pasta de dientes.Tatoeba #473453 by Shishir, translation #263637 by CK
- Por favor, ¿puedes comprar pasta dental en la tienda?Please, can you buy toothpaste at the store?
- Me olvidé de empacar mi crema dental para el viaje.I forgot to pack my toothpaste for the trip.
- Necesito ir a la farmacia a buscar una pasta de dientes nueva.I need to go to the pharmacy and get a new toothpaste.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are getting ready in the bathroom.
- LucíaAlejandro, no queda pasta de dientes.Alejandro, there is no toothpaste left.
- AlejandroLo siento, olvidé comprar más.I'm sorry, I forgot to buy more.
- LucíaTengo que ir a la tienda ahora.I have to go to the store now.
- AlejandroYo te acompaño a buscar la pasta de dientes.I will go with you to look for the toothpaste.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toothpaste” translations and entries pasta de dientes, dentífrico, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, pasta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
