raspado
/rasˈpado/
The English phrase "snow cone" is translated into Spanish as raspado.
A snow cone is a frozen dessert made of shaved ice flavored with syrup.
What does it mean word for word?
The word raspado comes from the verb raspar, meaning "to scrape" or "to shave", referring to the shaved ice.
Which one should you use?
In many parts of Spain and some South American countries, granizado is used instead of raspado to describe similar frozen desserts. granizado is used to describe a slushie / shaved ice.
Is it said differently in some regions?
While raspado is understood in many places, it is the most common term for a snow cone in Mexico. In Spain, people might refer to a snow cone as granizado. The term piragua is an informal way to say snow cone, commonly used in Puerto Rico and parts of the Caribbean.
How do you pronounce it?
/rasˈpado/
Did you know?
- In Puerto Rico, the word piragua literally means 'canoe'. This refers to the traditional wooden carts used by vendors to transport the heavy blocks of ice through the streets.
- In Mexico, raspados often feature savory or unconventional additions like chamoy, a salty and spicy condiment made from pickled apricots.
- In some regions, a raspado is served with leche condensada or condensed milk, which transforms the dessert from a refreshing ice treat into a heavy, creamy sweet.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría un raspado de cereza, por favorI would like a cherry snow cone, please
- ¿Me recomendaría una nieve raspada de limón?Would you recommend a lemon snow cone?
- ¡Qué calor! Voy a comprar una piragua de fresaIt's so hot! I'm going to buy a strawberry snow cone
- ¿Me das una raspa de tamarindo, por favor?Can I have a tamarind snow cone, please?
- granizado de limónLemon snow cone
- raspado de sandíaWatermelon snow cone
- cholado de maracuyáPassion fruit snow cone
- piragua de mangoMango snow cone
- Buenos días, ¿me podría dar un raspado de mango, por favor?Good morning, could I have a mango snow cone, please?
- ¡Claro! Aquí tiene su raspado de mango bien fríoSure! Here's your nice and cold mango snow cone
- Hola, ¿me das una piragua de piña colada?Hi, can I have a piña colada snow cone?
- ¡Por supuesto! Aquí tienes una deliciosa piragua de piña coladaOf course! Here's a delicious piña colada snow cone for you
- un raspado de fresaA strawberry snow cone
- Quiero un raspado de fresa.I want a strawberry snow cone.
- El raspado tiene mucho jarabe.The snow cone has a lot of syrup.
- Ese raspado de limón es muy refrescante.That lemon snow cone is very refreshing.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are walking through a park on a hot day.
- JavierHace mucho calor, Sofía.It is very hot, Sofía.
- SofíaSí, vamos a comprar un raspado.Yes, let's go buy a snow cone.
- JavierMe parece una excelente idea.That sounds like an excellent idea to me.
- SofíaYo prefiero uno de mango.I prefer a mango one.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry raspado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
