How do you say dough in Spanish?

The Spanish word for dough is masa (MAH-sah), a feminine noun used for any uncooked mixture of flour, water, and other ingredients.

What is masa in Mexican cooking?

In Mexican cuisine, masa specifically refers to corn dough made from nixtamalized corn (masa de maíz), which is the base for tortillas, tamales, pupusas, and other traditional dishes.

Does masa mean money in Spanish like dough does in English?

Unlike English where dough is slang for money, Spanish masa does not carry this meaning — for money slang, Spanish speakers use plata, lana, or pasta (in Spain).

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Dough in Spanish: Masa

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Masa · noun (feminine) · MAH-sah

Dough in Spanish is masa, a feminine noun used for bread dough, pizza dough, and any mixture of flour and liquid. In Mexico, masa specifically refers to corn dough used for tortillas and tamales.

Masa is pronounced MAH-sah, with even stress on both syllables.

Amasa bien la masa antes de dejarla reposar.

Knead the dough well before letting it rest.

Dough in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for dough, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
masa	dough	MAH-sah	Default, widely understood
pasta	dough		Spain, for pastry dough

How Native Speakers Use Masa

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Baking bread

La masa necesita reposar una hora para que suba.

The dough needs to rest for an hour to rise.

Bread-making instructions.

Mexican cooking

Mi abuela hace la masa para las tortillas a mano.

My grandmother makes the tortilla dough by hand.

Traditional corn dough preparation.

Pizza making

Estira la masa con el rodillo hasta que quede fina.

Roll out the dough with the rolling pin until it's thin.

Pizza preparation.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Masa

Confusing masa with pasta

Incorrect: Quiero pasta de pizza.

Correct: Quiero masa de pizza.

While pasta can mean dough in Spain, masa is the universal and unambiguous term for raw dough.

Using masa for money slang

Incorrect: Necesito masa para pagar.

Correct: Necesito plata/dinero para pagar.

Unlike English dough (slang for money), Spanish masa is not used as money slang — use plata or dinero instead.

Lock in Dough Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Masa used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using masa in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Amasa bien la masa antes de dejarla reposar. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Dough in Spanish

How do you say dough in Spanish?: The Spanish word for dough is masa (MAH-sah), a feminine noun used for any uncooked mixture of flour, water, and other ingredients.
What is masa in Mexican cooking?: In Mexican cuisine, masa specifically refers to corn dough made from nixtamalized corn (masa de maíz), which is the base for tortillas, tamales, pupusas, and other traditional dishes.
Does masa mean money in Spanish like dough does in English?: Unlike English where dough is slang for money, Spanish masa does not carry this meaning — for money slang, Spanish speakers use plata, lana, or pasta (in Spain).