Luca stende l’impasto con il mattarello mentre io preparo la torta.

Because Italian usually shortens il to l’ before a vowel sound. This is called elision.

So:

• il impasto → l’impasto

This is very common:

• l’acqua = the water
• l’olio = the oil
• l’amico = the friend

In writing, the apostrophe is required here.

Stende is the third-person singular present of stendere.

The basic meaning of stendere is to spread out, to stretch out, or to lay out. In cooking, with dough, it often means:

• to roll out
• to spread out flat

So in this sentence, Luca stende l’impasto means Luca is flattening or rolling out the dough.

Con means with, and here it introduces the tool used to do the action.

So:

• con il mattarello = with the rolling pin

Italian often uses con for instruments or tools:

• scrivo con la penna = I write with a pen
• taglio con il coltello = I cut with the knife

So this part simply tells you how Luca is rolling out the dough.

Mattarello means rolling pin.

It is the kitchen tool used to flatten dough. In this sentence:

• il mattarello = the rolling pin

The article il is used because mattarello is a masculine singular noun.

Mentre means while.

It connects two actions happening at the same time:

• Luca stende l’impasto
• io preparo la torta

So mentre shows simultaneity: one action is happening while the other is happening.

It is a very common word for linking parallel actions.

Yes, it could.

Italian often drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

So both are possible:

• mentre io preparo la torta
• mentre preparo la torta

Including io adds a little more emphasis or contrast. It can sound like:

• while I prepare the cake
• while I’m the one preparing the cake

Here, io helps highlight the contrast between Luca and me.

In Italian, the simple present is often used where English would use either:

• I prepare
• I am preparing

So preparo can naturally mean I prepare or I’m preparing, depending on context.

Because the sentence describes actions happening right now, English usually translates it with the progressive:

• while I am preparing the cake

Italian does have stare + gerundio:

• sto preparando

But it is not always necessary. The simple present is very common and natural here.

They are both in the present indicative.

• stende = he/she spreads out / rolls out
• preparo = I prepare

More specifically:

• stende comes from stendere
• preparo comes from preparare

The endings tell you the subject:

• -o usually = I
• -e in this case = he/she

So:

• io preparo
• Luca stende

Italian uses articles more often than English does.

So even where English might say:

• I’m making cake
• I’m preparing cake

Italian often prefers:

• preparo la torta

Here la torta means the cake. In context, it usually refers to the specific cake being prepared.

Likewise:

• l’impasto = the dough

Italian commonly uses definite articles with food items, objects, and things already understood in the situation.

Usually torta means cake, but depending on context it can sometimes refer to something more like a tart or a baked dish.

In many everyday contexts, the safest meaning is:

• torta = cake

Learners should just remember that the exact English translation can vary a little depending on the recipe or situation.

Impasto usually means a mixture of ingredients worked together, especially dough or batter, depending on context.

In this sentence, because Luca is using a rolling pin, impasto clearly means dough.

Pasta is different. It can mean:

• the food pasta
• sometimes paste
• in some contexts, a kind of dough, but not usually the best choice here

So for this sentence:

• impasto = dough

That is the natural word.

Yes, Italian word order is fairly flexible, although the original version is very natural.

For example, you could also say:

• Mentre io preparo la torta, Luca stende l’impasto con il mattarello.

This changes the focus slightly but keeps the same basic meaning.

The original order starts with Luca, so it foregrounds what Luca is doing first.

A learner may notice that mattarello has double consonants: tt.

In Italian, double consonants are pronounced more strongly and held a little longer than single ones. So mattarello is not pronounced like a simple matarello.

Also:

• ll is a clear l sound
• the stress is on -re-: mat-ta-REL-lo

Paying attention to double consonants is important in Italian because they can change meaning or make your pronunciation sound much more natural.