muy rico
/mui ɾiko/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "very yummy" is translated as muy rico.
The phrase is used to describe food or drink that tastes very good. While rico/a can mean 'rich' in terms of wealth or flavor intensity, when used to describe food, it specifically means delicious or tasty.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of muy (very) and rico (rich), where rico is used to mean delicious in the context of food.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, rico/a can be used emphatically as re rico/a to intensify the deliciousness.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the food being described is a feminine noun, such as la sopa (the soup), the adjective changes to the feminine form muy rica.
Did you know?
- While muy rico describes food, calling a person rico or rica can be a suggestive way to say they are physically attractive or 'hot'.
- The word rico comes from the Gothic word reiks, meaning 'mighty' or 'powerful'. This suggests that food is 'yummy' because it has a powerful or commanding flavor.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying está rico is a common way to thank a host during a meal, acting as a social lubricant to show appreciation.
Examples in context
- ¡Esta comida es deliciosa!This food is delicious!
- ¡Qué exquisito está este postre!This dessert is exquisite!
- Esta salsa está muy sabrosaThis sauce is very flavorful
- ¡Qué rico! (How tasty!)How tasty!
- ¡Qué rico está este pastel!How tasty is this cake!
- Estos camarones están para chuparse los dedosThese shrimp are finger-licking good!
- El chocolate caliente de esta cafetería está de muerteThe hot chocolate from this café is to die for!
- Esta comida está muy rica.This food is very yummy.
- Este pastel está muy rico.This cake is very yummy.
- El chocolate caliente está muy rico.The hot chocolate is very yummy.
Example conversation
María and Javier are eating dinner together.
- MaríaPrueba la sopa, Javier.Try the soup, Javier.
- JavierEstá muy rico, María.It is very yummy, María.
- María¿Quieres más?Do you want more?
- JavierSí, por favor.Yes, please.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries muy, rico, CC BY-SA 4.0.
