Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| parado | /paˈɾado/ | |
| cashato | /kaˈʃato/ | |
| pincho | /ˈpint͡ʃo/ | Spain, adjectival |
The term "spiky" refers to something that is erect and has sharp points.
Which one should you use?
puntiagudo is a formal way to say 'spiky' used to describe an object or surface that is sharp or pointed, while espinoso is a formal way to say 'spiky' when referring to something that is thorny or prickly. For informal contexts, puntudo is an informal way to say 'spiky' used to describe something that has sharp points and pinchudo is an informal way to say 'spiky' commonly used in Latin America to refer to something that is prickly. In Spain, pincho is used to describe something spiky or having points.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, use puntiagudo to describe pointed surfaces or espinoso to describe something thorny. In informal settings, you might use puntudo for sharp points or pinchudo in Latin America for prickly objects. The term parado is considered slang.
How does it change in a sentence?
The slang term parado must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. It becomes parada for feminine nouns and parados for masculine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈɾado/
Did you know?
- In Spain, a pincho is not just something spiky, but also a small snack typically served on a piece of bread and held in place by a toothpick.
- The term pinchar is the root of many 'spiky' words in Spanish, but it is also used idiomatically to mean 'to puncture' or even 'to flirt' in certain social contexts.
- The word parado comes from the verb parar, which means 'to stop', showing how an adjective for 'standing up' or 'spiky' shares a root with the concept of halting movement.
Examples in context
- Las hojas del cactus son puntiagudas.The cactus leaves are spiky.
- Ten cuidado con ese erizo, tiene una espalda muy espinosa.Be careful with that hedgehog, it has a very spiky back.
- No te acerques mucho al cactus, ¡es muy pinchudo!Don't get too close to the cactus, it's very spiky!
- ¡Cuidado con esos zapatos puntudos, podrías lastimarte!Watch out for those pointy shoes, you could hurt yourself!
- No toques las puntas del cactus, son muy picudas.Don't touch the tips of the cactus, they are very spiky.
- un erizo espinosoA prickly hedgehog
- tiene una superficie llena de puntasIt has a surface full of spikes
- Ese peinado está muy parado.That hairstyle is very spiky.
- Tiene el pelo todo parado.His hair is all spiky.
- Me gusta tu pelo parado.I like your spiky hair.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are looking at a photo of a friend.
- Lucía¿Viste el pelo de Juan?Did you see Juan's hair?
- MateoSí, lo lleva muy parado.Yes, he wears it very spiky.
- LucíaParece un dibujo animado.He looks like a cartoon character.
- MateoEs un estilo muy loco.It's a very crazy style.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spiky” translations and entries parado, cashato, pincho, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries parado, pincho, CC BY-SA 4.0.
