Questions & Answers about Pastaneden pasta alıyorum.
Why does the word for "from the pastry shop" end in -den instead of -dan?
The suffix for "from" is -dan or -den, depending on vowel harmony. Because the last vowel in pastane is an "e", we use the front-vowel version -den to make pastaneden.
Wait, does pasta mean "cake" or "pasta" (like spaghetti)?
It means "cake"! This is a classic false friend for English speakers. If you want to eat Italian-style pasta in Turkey, you need to ask for makarna.
Doesn't the verb almak usually mean "to take"? Why is it translated as "buying" here?
Yes, almak literally means "to take" or "to get". However, in Turkish, it is also the most common way to say "to buy". When you get something from a shop, like in pastaneden pasta alıyorum, it is naturally understood that you are buying it.
Why isn't there a word for "a" or "some" before pasta?
In Turkish, when you are talking about an object in a general, non-specific sense, you don't need words like "a" (bir). By simply saying pasta alıyorum, it translates smoothly to "I am buying cake".
Is the word pastane made by combining pasta with something else?
Exactly! It comes from combining pasta (cake) with the Persian word hane (house or place). Over time, the "h" was dropped to make it easier to say, giving us pastane (cake house, or pastry shop).
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