cay
[kaj˧˧]
The Vietnamese word for spicy is cay.
cay is used to describe the burning sensation provided by chili peppers and other spices. This term can describe the actual taste of food or the physical sensation of a stinging feeling in the eyes or on the skin caused by chilies.
Meaning: providing a burning sensation due to chilies and other spices (adj)
Which one should you use?
While cay specifically refers to the heat of chili peppers, the word nồng is used to describe other types of pungent smells or tastes, such as the strong scent of garlic or onions.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that something is excessively spicy, you can add quá after the word to form cay quá.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese, cay is not just a taste but can describe an emotion. The phrase cay cú describes a feeling of bitterness or resentment after a defeat.
- Some Vietnamese dialects use cay to describe a sharp, biting cold, though this is less common in modern urban speech.
- Because cay can refer to a stinging sensation, it is the same word used to describe the feeling of tears in one's eyes from irritation.
Examples in context
- Nó có cay không?Is it spicy?This sentence is useful for asking if something is cay.Tatoeba #13340757 by leucammieuvu, translation #6358685 by CK
- Nước sốt quá cay!The sauce is extremely spicy!This sentence is useful for describing a sauce that is extremely cay.Tatoeba #14032226 by nhuttan2004, translation #14031923 by Ioan_Cristian
- Tôi không ăn đồ cay.I don't eat spicy food.This sentence is useful for stating that you do not eat cay food.Tatoeba #13876998 by leucammieuvu, translation #13876840 by frpzzd
- Cái món này cay quá!This dish is too spicy!
- Tôi không thích món ăn quá cay.I don't like food that is too spicy.
- Tôi thích món ăn có gia vị cay.I like food with a spicy flavor.
- Nguyên liệu chính để tạo gia vị cay là ớt.The main ingredient to create a spicy flavor is chili.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chi and Tuấn are eating dinner at a restaurant.
- ChiMón này cay quá, Tuấn ơi!This dish is too spicy, Tuấn!
- TuấnAnh thấy bình thường mà.I think it's normal.
- ChiChi không ăn được cay lắm.Chi cannot eat very spicy food.
- TuấnUống nước đi cho hết cay.Drink some water to stop the burn.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spicy” translations and entries cay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
