Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between está rico and es rico. While está rico means "it tastes good" (referring to the current experience of eating), es rico implies the food is inherently rich or wealthy, which is a different meaning. Additionally, está bueno is a common and slightly more neutral way to say "it tastes good" compared to the more enthusiastic está rico.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Está rico/a is an informal expression. For more formal situations, you can use Está exquisito/a to say "It is exquisite" or Tiene un sabor maravilloso to say "It has a wonderful taste", which is a polite and formal way to express that something tastes exceptionally good. For informal contexts, Está sabroso/a can be used to mean "flavorful" or "savory".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the adjective must match the gender and number of the noun it describes: use está rico for a masculine noun like pastel, está rica for a feminine noun like la sopa and están ricas for feminine plural nouns like frutas.
How do you pronounce it?
/esta ɾiko/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, calling a person rico/a can be an informal way to say they are 'hot' or 'attractive', much like the English 'tasty'.
- The adjective rico originally meant 'mighty' or 'powerful' in Old Spanish, deriving from the Gothic word for a ruler or king.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, it is customary to tell the cook está rico multiple times during a meal to show continuous appreciation.
Examples in context
- Estos tacos están buenísimos. Mi madre los hace de maravilla.These tacos are awesome. My mother makes them wonderfully.
- Esta pizza está muy rica.This pizza tastes very good.
- Este postre está rico.This dessert tastes good.
- El café está rico hoy.The coffee tastes good today.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are eating dinner together.
- DanielLucía, ¿te gusta el arroz?Lucía, do you like the rice?
- LucíaSí, está rico.Yes, it tastes good.
- DanielQué bueno, yo lo cociné.That's great, I cooked it.
- LucíaGracias, Daniel.Thank you, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rico, CC BY-SA 4.0.
