Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Sour in Spanish: Agrio
Agrio · adjective · AH-gree-oh
Sour in Spanish is agrio (or agria for feminine), describing the sharp acidic taste found in citrus fruits and fermented foods.
Agrio is AH-gree-oh, three syllables with stress on AH.
Este limón está demasiado agrio para la limonada.
This lemon is too sour for the lemonade.
Sour in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for sour, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| agrio | sour | AH-gree-oh | Default, widely understood |
| ácido | sour | for citrus-like sourness | |
| amargo | sour | sometimes confused with sour but means bitter |
How Native Speakers Use Agrio
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Tasting food
La leche huele agria, creo que se echó a perder.
The milk smells sour, I think it went bad.
Detecting spoiled food.
Candy description
A los niños les encantan los dulces ácidos.
Kids love sour candy.
Describing candy flavors.
Figurative use
Tiene un carácter agrio que aleja a la gente.
He has a sour personality that pushes people away.
Describing someone's temperament.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Agrio
Confusing agrio with amargo
Incorrect: El café sin azúcar es muy agrio.
Correct: El café sin azúcar es muy amargo.
Coffee without sugar is bitter (amargo), not sour (agrio)—these are different taste sensations.
Gender agreement
Incorrect: La naranja está agrio.
Correct: La naranja está agria.
Agrio changes to agria when modifying a feminine noun like naranja.
Lock in Sour Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Agrio used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using agrio in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Este limón está demasiado agrio para la limonada. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Sour in Spanish
- How do you say sour in Spanish?
- The primary word is agrio/agria for the pucker-inducing acidic taste, while ácido is also common especially for citrus or candy sourness.
- What is the difference between agrio and amargo?
- Agrio describes the acidic tang of lemons, vinegar, or sour cream, while amargo refers to the bitter taste of unsweetened coffee, dark chocolate, or certain herbs.
- How do you say sour cream in Spanish?
- Sour cream is crema agria in most of Latin America or nata agria in Spain, with some regions using the term jocoqui for a similar fermented dairy product.