granizado
/ɡɾaniˈθado/
The English word "slushy" can be translated into Spanish as granizado.
While the adjective granizado describes something having the consistency of slush, it is also used as a noun in many Spanish-speaking countries to refer to the flavored, frozen drink itself.
Meaning: having the consistency of slush (adj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Colombia, the informal term cholado is used to describe a frozen drink made with crushed ice, various fruits, sweetened condensed milk and other toppings.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡɾaniˈθado/
Did you know?
- While granizado refers to the drink, the word granizo refers to the weather phenomenon of hail. Both words share the same root because hail consists of ice grains falling from the sky.
- In some Caribbean countries, a slushy is called a piragua. This term is specifically linked to the traditional street carts where the ice is shaved by hand with a metal plane.
- While granizado is common, in Mexico you will more likely hear the word raspado to describe a slushy. This reflects the different way the ice is prepared, as it is scraped or shaved rather than blended.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría un granizado de limón, por favor.I would like a lemon slushy, please.
- Los niños disfrutaron los granizados en el parque.The children enjoyed the slushies in the park.
- Este café ofrece granizados de diferentes sabores.This café offers slushies in different flavors.
- Después de nadar, siempre compro un raspado de fresa.After swimming, I always buy a strawberry slushy.
- ¡Vamos a tomar cholados para refrescarnos!Let's have cholados to cool off!
- En Puerto Rico, disfrutamos de una piragua durante el verano.In Puerto Rico, we enjoy a piragua during the summer.
- El jugo tiene una textura de granizado.The juice has a slushy texture.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are walking outside in winter.
- ElenaMira el suelo, está todo granizado.Look at the ground, it is all slushy.
- AlejandroSí, mis botas se están mojando mucho.Yes, my boots are getting very wet.
- ElenaTen cuidado de no resbalar, Alejandro.Be careful not to slip, Alejandro.
- AlejandroGracias, Elena, iré con mucho cuidado.Thanks, Elena, I will be very careful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry granizado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
