French Phrase
Les plats de pâtes, c'est un incontournable.
Meaning
Literally, 'Pasta dishes are an unavoidable thing.' In everyday French it means 'Pasta dishes are a must‑have' – something you simply can’t miss when talking about good food.
When to use
Use this sentence when recommending food, describing a menu, or emphasizing that a particular dish (here, pasta) is essential to a culinary experience. It works in casual conversation, food blogs, or when giving travel tips about French cuisine.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lesplatsdepâtes,c'estunincontournable.
Les (definite article, plural)
Used before a plural noun to indicate 'the' in French.
de (preposition)
Links the noun 'plats' with the complement 'pâtes', meaning 'of' or 'made of'.
c'est (contraction)
Short for 'cela est', used to introduce a statement or judgement.
un (indefinite article, masculine singular)
Introduces a singular masculine noun; here it modifies the abstract noun 'incontournable'.
incontournable (adjective used as noun)
Literally 'unavoidable', used to mean 'a must‑have' or 'essential'.
🗨In Conversation
Qu'est‑ce que tu me conseilles de commander ici ?
What do you recommend I order here?
Les plats de pâtes, c'est un incontournable.
Pasta dishes are a must‑have.
✕Common Mistakes
Les plats de pâtes, c'est des incontournables.
Use 'c'est' with a singular noun or abstract concept; for a plural you would say 'ce sont des incontournables'.
Les plats de pâtes, c'est un incontournables.
When the noun after 'incontournable' is plural, switch to 'des incontournables' or keep the singular abstract use as shown.
Les plats pâtes, c'est un incontournable.
Do not drop the preposition; 'plats pâtes' is ungrammatical.
↔Alternatives
Les pâtes sont indispensables.
Pasta is indispensable.
Les plats de pâtes, c'est un incontournable de la cuisine française.
Pasta dishes are a staple of French cuisine.
On ne peut pas passer à côté des plats de pâtes.
You can’t skip pasta dishes.
Cultural Tip
While Italy is the home of pasta, French restaurants often feature pasta dishes as a beloved side or main course, especially in bistro and brasserie settings. Saying something is 'un incontournable' signals that it’s a classic that locals and tourists alike should try. In formal settings you might prefer 'indispensable' or 'un plat emblématique' to keep the tone more refined.