Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| delicioso | /deliˈθjoso/ /deliˈsjoso/ |
| sabroso | /saˈbɾoso/ |
| rico | /ˈriko/ |
| gustoso | /ɡusˈtoso/ |
| apetitoso | /apetiˈtoso/ |
These terms are used to describe food or things that are pleasing to the taste. While delicioso is a general term for something highly pleasing to the senses, sabroso specifically emphasizes a richness of flavor or seasoning.
Which one should you use?
Delicioso is a general term for something pleasing to the senses. In contrast, sabroso is used when you want to emphasize that something is flavorful or well-seasoned. For everyday, colloquial Spanish, rico is the most common way to express that food is delicious or tasty.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional preferences vary: in Mexico, people often use rico/a to describe delicious food, while in Argentina, people commonly use riquísimo/a to express that something is delicious. The informal phrase está de rechupete is often used in Spain.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adjectives must agree in gender with the noun they describe. For example, use the feminine form deliciosa for feminine nouns like comida.
How do you pronounce it?
/deliˈθjoso/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When describing how food tastes in the moment, use the verb estar (e.g., está delicioso) rather than ser (e.g., es delicioso), because taste is considered a perceived quality or a state in this context.
When do people say it?
Spanish speakers have several colorful ways to express high praise for food, such as the phrase para chuparse los dedos, which means 'finger-licking good'.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, calling a person rico/a can mean they are 'delicious' in a physical, attractive sense, rather than just describing their character or wealth.
- When you say a food is rico, you are using a word that originally meant 'powerful' or 'mighty'. It comes from a Germanic root related to the word 'rich', but in Spanish, it shifted from describing social status to describing flavor.
- The phrase está de rechupete used in Spain comes from the word rechupete, which evokes the action of slurping or sucking up the last bit of a tasty sauce.
Examples in context
- Esto se ve delicioso.This looks delicious.This sentence uses delicioso to show how food looks.Tatoeba #4917435 by Ruthdq, translation #2253732 by CK
- Se veía tan delicioso.It looked so delicious.This sentence uses delicioso to describe the appearance of food in the past.Tatoeba #4917440 by Ruthdq, translation #2546477 by CK
- ¡Eh! Esto es delicioso.Hey, this is delicious.This sentence uses delicioso to express a current reaction to food.Tatoeba #10266814 by Seael, translation #3575479 by CK
- La comida en este restaurante es deliciosaThe food at this restaurant is delicious
- El chef preparó un plato exquisitoThe chef prepared an exquisite dish
- ¡Qué postre tan sabroso!What a delicious dessert!
- Ese plato es apetitosoThat dish looks delicious
- La pizza está riquísimaThe pizza is delicious
- Este pastel está deliciosamente buenoThis cake is deliciously good
- ¡Estas costillas están para chuparse los dedos!These ribs are finger-licking good!
- La paella está de rechupeteThe paella is incredibly delicious
- Esta salsa está muy ricaThis sauce is very delicious
- La carne asada está riquísimaThe grilled meat is delicious
- ¡La comida cubana es sabrosa!Cuban food is delicious!
- 73 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are eating dinner together.
- AlejandroPrueba este pastel, está delicioso.Try this cake, it is delicious.
- ElenaTienes razón, es muy delicioso.You are right, it is very delicious.
- Alejandro¿Quieres otro pedazo?Do you want another piece?
- ElenaSí, por favor, gracias Alejandro.Yes, please, thank you Alejandro.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “delicious” translations and entries delicioso, sabroso, rico, gustoso, apetitoso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries delicioso, gustoso, rico, sabroso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
