delicioso
/deliˈθjoso/
The English word delicious translates to Spanish as delicioso. Wiktionary also lists sabroso and rico.
Meaning: pleasing to taste (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| delicioso | /deliˈθjoso/ /deliˈsjoso/ |
| sabroso | /saˈbɾoso/ |
| rico | /ˈriko/ |
| gustoso | /ɡusˈtoso/ |
| apetitoso | /apetiˈtoso/ |
These terms are used to describe something that is pleasing to taste.
Which one should you use?
While delicioso is a direct cognate, rico is the most common, everyday way a native speaker describes food as delicious. Furthermore, delicioso often carries a slightly more formal or intense connotation than the colloquial rico. Other forms include sabroso, gustoso and apetitoso.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it describes, so use the feminine form deliciosa for feminine nouns. To describe multiple feminine items, use the plural form deliciosas. To describe multiple masculine or mixed-gender items, use the plural form deliciosos.
How do you pronounce it?
/deliˈθjoso/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, describing a person as rico or rica is a slang term for saying they are physically attractive.
- The common way to say something is delicious, rico, actually comes from a word meaning 'mighty' or 'powerful'.
- The adjective rico can be confusing because, while it means 'delicious' when talking about food, it also means 'rich' when talking about money.
Examples in context
- Esto se ve delicioso.This looks delicious.This sentence is useful for saying that something looks delicious using the form delicioso.Tatoeba #4917435 by Ruthdq, translation #2253732 by CK
- Se veía tan delicioso.It looked so delicious.This sentence is useful for saying that something looked so delicious using the form delicioso.Tatoeba #4917440 by Ruthdq, translation #2546477 by CK
- ¡Eh! Esto es delicioso.Hey, this is delicious.Tatoeba #10266814 by Seael, translation #3575479 by CK
- El pastel está exquisitoThe cake is delicious.
- Las hamburguesas están muy buenasThe hamburgers are very tasty.
- Este postre está sabrosónThis dessert is super delicious!
- El helado está muy ricoThe ice cream is very delicious.
- 73 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are eating dinner at a restaurant.
- MateoPrueba este postre, está delicioso.Try this dessert, it is delicious.
- ElenaTienes razón, es muy delicioso.You are right, it is very delicious.
- Mateo¿Quieres pedir otro más?Do you want to order another one?
- ElenaNo, gracias, ya estoy llena.No, thank you, I am already full.
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.
