Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Spicy" in Spanish: Picante and Regional Alternatives
Picante · adjective · pee-KAHN-teh
Spicy in Spanish is picante (pee-KAHN-teh), derived from picar (to sting). It describes the heat of chili peppers in food. Mexico also uses picoso informally. Picante can also mean risqué when describing humor or stories.
pee-KAHN-teh — three syllables, stress on KAHN. Invariable for gender: comida picante, chile picante.
La salsa está demasiado picante para mí.
The salsa is too spicy for me.
Spicy in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for spicy, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| picante | spicy | pee-KAHN-teh | Default, widely understood |
| picoso | spicy | Mexico (informal for spicy-hot) | |
| enchilado | spicy | Mexico (made spicy with chili) |
How Native Speakers Use Picante
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Describing food heat
¿Te gusta la comida picante o la prefieres suave?
Do you like spicy food or do you prefer it mild?
The most common usage — asking about or describing food's heat level.
Ordering at a restaurant
Por favor, sin picante. No tolero bien el chile.
No spice, please. I don't handle chili well.
Sin picante (without spice) is useful for travelers ordering in Mexican or Latin restaurants.
Figurative use (risqué)
El comediante contó un chiste bastante picante sobre su vida amorosa.
The comedian told a pretty spicy joke about his love life.
Picante also means risqué, racy, or provocative when describing humor or gossip.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Picante
Confusing picante (spicy) with caliente (hot temperature)
Incorrect: La sopa está muy picante. (meaning hot temperature)
Correct: La sopa está muy caliente. (hot temp) / La sopa está muy picante. (spicy heat)
Picante means spicy (chili heat). Caliente means hot (temperature). English uses 'hot' for both, but Spanish distinguishes them. A soup can be caliente (temperature) and picante (spicy) — or just one.
Making picante agree in gender
Incorrect: Una salsa picanta.
Correct: Una salsa picante.
Picante ends in -e and does not change for gender. It's the same for masculine and feminine: un plato picante, una salsa picante. Only number changes: picantes.
Lock in Spicy 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 Picante used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using picante in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La salsa está demasiado picante para mí. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Spicy in Spanish
- How do you say spicy in Spanish?
- Spicy is picante. It doesn't change for gender (comida picante, pollo picante). In Mexico, picoso is an informal synonym. The noun for spiciness is picor or lo picante.
- What's the difference between picante and picoso?
- Picante is the standard, universal word for spicy. Picoso is Mexican informal slang with the same meaning but a more casual register. Outside Mexico, picoso may not be understood.
- How do you say not spicy in Spanish?
- No picante or sin picante (without spice). For mild food: suave, no tan picante (not too spicy), or poquito picante (just a little spicy). At a restaurant: ¿Lo pueden hacer sin picante?