Inklingo

How to Say "dough" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “dough” is “plata” — use this informal term for money when you need a common, widely understood slang word for cash..

plata🔊A1

Use this informal term for money when you need a common, widely understood slang word for cash.

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masa🔊A1

This is the standard, non-slang term for the mixture used in baking bread, pizza, or other pastries.

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pasta🔊B1

Use this term for money in informal contexts, similar to 'dough' or 'cash' in English.

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lana🔊B1

This is a common slang term for money, used in casual conversations among friends or peers.

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cuartos🔊B1

This is a highly informal slang term for money, often used when talking about needing funds for a purchase.

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mosca🔊B1

Use this slang term for money when referring to cash, especially if you had to pay with it unexpectedly.

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tela🔊B2

This slang term for money is used when discussing whether someone has enough funds to cover expenses or treat others.

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feria🔊C1

This slang term refers to money, often used when asking if someone has enough cash for a specific purpose like transportation.

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perros🔊C1

This is a very informal slang term for money, used when stating the need for funds to make a purchase.

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English → Spanish

plata

PLAH-tah/ˈplata/

nounA1informal slang
Use this informal term for money when you need a common, widely understood slang word for cash.
A small, neat pile of generic gold and silver coins, representing currency.

Examples

¿Tienes suficiente plata para el autobús?

Do you have enough money for the bus?

No tengo plata en este momento, ¿puedes pagar tú?

I don't have cash right now, can you pay?

Gané mucha plata vendiendo mi coche viejo.

I earned a lot of money selling my old car.

Use with 'Hay'

To ask if there is money available, use 'Hay plata' (Is there money?), treating it like an uncountable substance, similar to 'water'.

Confusing Regions

Mistake: “Using 'plata' for money in Spain in formal settings.”

Correction: In Spain, use 'dinero'. In almost all of Latin America, 'plata' is perfectly normal and common for 'money'.

masa

MAH-sah/ˈma.sa/

nounA1
This is the standard, non-slang term for the mixture used in baking bread, pizza, or other pastries.
A smooth, round ball of raw bread dough sitting on a wooden surface, ready for baking.

Examples

Necesito amasar la masa del pan por diez minutos.

I need to knead the bread dough for ten minutes.

Esta masa de galletas lleva mucha mantequilla.

This cookie dough has a lot of butter in it.

La masa para los panqueques debe ser líquida.

The batter for the pancakes should be liquid.

Always Feminine

Remember that 'masa' is always feminine, so you must use 'la masa' or 'una masa', even though it refers to a substance, not a specific female person or thing.

pasta

PAHS-tah/ˈpas.ta/

nounB1informal
Use this term for money in informal contexts, similar to 'dough' or 'cash' in English.
A neat, tall stack of generic green paper currency bills.

Examples

Necesito más pasta para comprar ese coche.

I need more dough (money) to buy that car.

¿Tienes suficiente pasta para pagar la cena?

Do you have enough cash to pay for dinner?

La receta dice que hay que amasar la pasta por diez minutos.

The recipe says that you have to knead the dough for ten minutes.

Usa esta pasta de dientes para cepillarte.

Use this toothpaste to brush your teeth.

Informal Context

Only use 'pasta' to mean money when speaking with friends or in relaxed, casual situations. Use 'dinero' in formal settings.

Context is Key

When talking about baking, 'pasta' is often interchangeable with 'masa' (dough), but 'pasta' is more common for thick, non-food pastes like glue or toothpaste.

lana

LAH-nah/ˈla.na/

nounB1slang
This is a common slang term for money, used in casual conversations among friends or peers.
A small stack of green paper currency bills tied together with a red rubber band.

Examples

¿Tienes suficiente lana para el taxi?

Do you have enough cash for the taxi?

Perdí mucha lana en esa inversión tonta.

I lost a lot of money on that silly investment.

No tengo ni una lana.

I don't have a single penny (I'm broke).

Counting Money

Even though 'dinero' (money) is masculine and singular, 'lana' is feminine and typically used in the singular when referring to a sum of cash.

Using 'Lana' Formally

Mistake: “Le transferí la lana a mi jefe.”

Correction: Le transferí el dinero a mi jefe. (Use 'dinero' or 'fondos' in professional or formal settings.)

cuartos

/KWAHR-tohs//ˈkwaɾtos/

nounB1informal slang
This is a highly informal slang term for money, often used when talking about needing funds for a purchase.
A storybook illustration featuring a small, neat pile of paper banknotes topped with a stack of shiny gold coins.

Examples

No tengo cuartos para comprar esa bicicleta.

I don't have the money to buy that bicycle.

¿Tienes suficientes cuartos para el taxi?

Do you have enough cash for the taxi?

Always Plural

When used to mean 'money,' this word is almost always used in its plural form, 'cuartos,' even though it refers to a general concept like 'dinero' (which is singular).

mosca

/MOHS-kah//ˈmoska/

nounB1slang
Use this slang term for money when referring to cash, especially if you had to pay with it unexpectedly.
A neat pile of various colorful paper currency bills and shiny gold and silver coins stacked together.

Examples

El cajero automático no funciona, así que tuve que pagar con mosca.

The ATM isn't working, so I had to pay with cash.

No aceptan tarjeta, solo quieren mosca.

They don't accept cards, they only want cash.

Context is Key

In most contexts, 'mosca' means 'fly.' Only use this slang meaning ('cash') when you are sure the setting is very informal, or when speaking in Spain.

tela

TAY-lah/ˈtela/

nounB2slang
This slang term for money is used when discussing whether someone has enough funds to cover expenses or treat others.
A burlap sack overflowing with generic gold coins and green paper bills.

Examples

¿Tienes suficiente tela para invitar a todos?

Do you have enough dough/cash to treat everyone?

Ese coche cuesta mucha tela.

That car costs a lot of money.

Context is Key

Mistake: “Using 'tela' to mean money in a formal setting (e.g., a bank application).”

Correction: Only use 'tela' for money when speaking casually with friends. Use 'dinero' or 'fondos' for formal contexts.

feria

FEH-ree-ah/ˈfe.ɾja/

nounC1slang
This slang term refers to money, often used when asking if someone has enough cash for a specific purpose like transportation.
A simple stack of stylized paper money bills and several gold coins, representing cash.

Examples

¿Tienes suficiente feria para el taxi?

Do you have enough cash for the taxi?

Necesito hacer mucha feria para comprar esa moto.

I need to make a lot of dough (money) to buy that motorcycle.

Context is Key

Mistake: “Using 'feria' to mean money in Spain or formal settings.”

Correction: This meaning is restricted to specific regions and very casual talk. Use 'dinero' or 'efectivo' instead in formal contexts.

perros

PEH-rrohs (Make sure to roll the 'rr' sound!)ˈperos

nounC1slang
This is a very informal slang term for money, used when stating the need for funds to make a purchase.
A simple illustration of a large, neat stack of generic gold coins and green paper bills.

Examples

Necesito unos perros para comprarme una bebida.

I need some cash to buy myself a drink.

¿Tienes perros sueltos?

Do you have any loose change?

Context is Key

If you are talking about money, this slang is only understood if the surrounding conversation is very informal or if you are in a specific region where this usage is common.

pasta

PAHS-tah/ˈpas.ta/

nounA2
Use this term for an uncooked mixture when the context is clearly about baking or preparing food ingredients.
A neat, tall stack of generic green paper currency bills.

Examples

La receta dice que hay que amasar la pasta por diez minutos.

The recipe says that you have to knead the dough for ten minutes.

Necesito más pasta para comprar ese coche.

I need more dough (money) to buy that car.

¿Tienes suficiente pasta para pagar la cena?

Do you have enough cash to pay for dinner?

Usa esta pasta de dientes para cepillarte.

Use this toothpaste to brush your teeth.

Informal Context

Only use 'pasta' to mean money when speaking with friends or in relaxed, casual situations. Use 'dinero' in formal settings.

Context is Key

When talking about baking, 'pasta' is often interchangeable with 'masa' (dough), but 'pasta' is more common for thick, non-food pastes like glue or toothpaste.

Money Slang vs. Baking Ingredient

The most common mistake is using slang terms for money when you mean the baking ingredient, or vice versa. Always ensure the context is clear: 'masa' and the second sense of 'pasta' are for baking, while the other terms are exclusively for money.

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