pastina

American  

[pa-stee-nuh] / pæˈsti nə /

noun

1. very small pieces of pasta, available in various shapes, used especially in soups.

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Etymology

Origin of pastina

First recorded in 1900–05; from Italian: literally, “little pasta,” diminutive of pasta “pasta” + -ina feminine diminutive suffix; paste ( def. ), -ine ²

Example Sentences

Caity Korn similarly wrote that pastina is a tradition in her family that still transported her to childhood and being cared for by parents and grandparents.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2023

"My cousins and I basically started off eating pastina before we graduated to larger pasta and sauce. It's so tiny and there's little chew involved."

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2023

In a Facebook comment, Catherine Martorell detailed how she grew up poor and how pastina was "the only solitary item that was kept in the house at all times."

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2023

Truthfully, pastina wasn't ever really a staple in my household.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2023

His breakfasts may have been a cardiologist’s nightmare—eggs, sausage, bacon, pastina with a poached egg—but he considered his marinara sauce to be healthy perfection: just garlic, oil, tomatoes, salt, and pepper.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times