Spanish word

picoso

Pronunciation

IPA/piˈkoso/

Meaning

  • adjectivespicy

Example

Esta salsa está picosa.

This sauce is spicy.

Illustration for picoso (spicy)

More examples

¿Te gusta la comida picosa?

Do you like spicy food?

Core concept

A tongue hit by tiny pepper pricks.

Common phrases

  • salsa picosa

    spicy sauce

  • comida picosa

    spicy food

  • taco picoso

    spicy taco

Similar words

picante: Lively, peppery heat that gives a clear, biting flavor on the tongue.
fuerte: Strong, intense taste or aroma that dominates a dish's flavor.

Definition in Spanish

Que produce una sensación picante intensa o punzante al probarlo.

Word origin

Derived from picar 'to prick or bite' and the suffix -oso 'full of', the word denotes a pricking, piercing heat that stays on the palate.

Usage tips

  • Compared with picante, picoso focuses on a sharp, tingling sting rather than general heat, and the word is especially common in Latin American speech.

Other meanings

  • piquantadjective
  • hotadjective

Opposites

  • insípidoblandadjective
  • suavemildadjective

Related words

  • picositoslightly spicyadjective
  • picosísimoextremely spicyadjective

Word lists with this word