picante
/piˈkante/
The Spanish word picante means spicy or hot.
Picante is used to describe food that has a spicy or pungent taste, specifically referring to the heat produced by chili peppers or spices. It is not used to describe food that is heavily seasoned with herbs, which would instead be described as sazonado. While picante is an adjective, you will often hear the verb picar used to express that something is spicy, such as in the phrase Esto pica mucho.
Which one should you use?
In Spanish, picante refers specifically to the heat from chilies or spices. It is distinct from the concept of being 'spicy' in the sense of being well-seasoned with herbs, for which you should use sazonado.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain Spanish-speaking regions, the informal phrase con chile is used to describe food that is spicy.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, picante remains the same for both masculine and feminine nouns. To describe multiple items, use the plural form picantes.
How do you pronounce it?
/piˈkante/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, saying me pica to a doctor might lead to confusion, as it can mean 'it is spicy' or 'it is itchy'.
- In some contexts, describing a person as picante can imply they are 'spicy' in personality, meaning they are witty, sharp, or slightly provocative.
- While picante refers to food, the verb picar can also mean 'to sting' or 'to peck', like a bird. This links the sensation of spicy heat to a sharp, stinging physical prick.
Examples in context
- ¡Prueba este platillo mexicano, está muy picosito pero delicioso!Try this Mexican dish, it's mildly spicy but delicious!
- Preparé una salsa picantita con un toque de jalapeño.I made a mildly spicy sauce with a hint of jalapeño.
- Esta salsa es muy picante.This sauce is very spicy.
- ¿Prefieres la comida picante?Do you prefer spicy food?
- No me gusta el sabor picante.I do not like the spicy flavor.
Example conversation
María and Javier are eating at a Mexican restaurant.
- María¿Está muy picante el plato?Is the dish very spicy?
- JavierSí, para mí es demasiado picante.Yes, for me it is too spicy.
- MaríaA mí me encanta lo picante.I love spicy things.
- JavierEntonces, ¡disfruta tu comida, María!Then, enjoy your food, María!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry picante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
