Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mostacilla | /mostaˈθiʝa/ | feminine |
| chispitas | /t͡ʃispitas/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, plural |
| grageas | /ɡɾaxeas/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, plural |
This term refers to small pieces of sugar or candy used as a decoration, often on desserts.
Which one should you use?
While mostacilla is the default form, it often refers to small beads used in jewelry or sewing rather than edible candy sprinkles. For edible candy, you may use chispitas or grageas.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Chispitas is a common, colloquial way to refer to candy sprinkles, particularly when talking about food like ice cream or cakes. Grageas is a more formal or technical term used in the confectionery industry to describe sugar-coated candies or sprinkles.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, you will most commonly hear the informal phrase bolitas de colores, which literally means 'colored little balls'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Chispitas is the diminutive form of chispa (meaning 'spark'), used here to denote the small size of the sprinkles.
How do you pronounce it?
/mostaˈθiʝa/
Did you know?
- Depending on the country, a person might call them fideos (noodles) if the sprinkles are long and rod-shaped, rather than using the word for 'sprinkles'.
- The word mostacilla actually comes from the word for 'mustard', mostaza. It evolved from describing small mustard seeds to describing small decorative beads or bits.
- The term grageas is used in medicine to describe pills that are coated in a protective sugar layer, similar to how candy sprinkles coat a center.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría un helado de aguacate con grageas multicolores.I'd like an avocado ice cream with sprinkles.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use grageas to describe multicolored sprinkles on ice cream.Tatoeba #3169891 by cueyayotl, translation #11213938 by DJ_Saidez
- Tengo una tarta decorada con granillo de colores.I have a cake decorated with sprinkles.
- El pastel está cubierto de grageas.The pastry is covered in sprinkles.
- Ese helado se ve delicioso con chispitas.That ice cream looks delicious with sprinkles.
- Me gusta cuando los donuts tienen bolitas de colores.I love it when donuts have sprinkles.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofia are decorating cupcakes in the kitchen.
- JavierSofía, ¿dónde está la mostacilla?Sofia, where are the sprinkles?
- SofíaEstán en el armario, Javier.They are in the cupboard, Javier.
- JavierGracias, voy a usar la mostacilla azul.Thanks, I'm going to use the blue sprinkles.
- SofíaPerfecto, yo usaré las amarillas.Perfect, I will use the yellow ones.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sprinkles” translations and entries mostacilla, chispitas, grageas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mostacilla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
